n 


/ 


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Class 


12&54-7 


Madison  Ave.  and  49th  Street,  New  York. 
Beside  tlie  main  tc/ic,  this  book  also  treats  of 


Sitbject  No. 


On  page 


Subject  Xo.  On  page 


^n 


APPLETOFS  LITERARY  MISCELLANY. 

A    NEW   SERIES   OF   CHOICE    BOOKS. 


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some  go  as  far  as  to  say  that  this  work  is  even  more  bewitching,  and  has  a  higher  tone, 
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Nos.  8  and  9.— HISTORY   OF    THE    ENGLISH    REVOLUTION   OF 
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Nos.  10,  11.  14,  15.  17,  18.  19,  20— A  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  CrVI- 
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No    16— SOMETHING    FOR   EVERYBODY  ;    Gleaned  m  the  Old  Pur- 
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«rvation-    Several  thousand  copies  ha-,  e  been  «c\J  m  cheap  pamphlat  styx* 


APPLETON'S   LITERARY   MISCELLANY. 


No  22.— TWO  LIVES  ;  or  To  Seem  and  to  Be.  By  Maria  J.  McIntosh, 
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likea  point  in  the  moral,  that  it  insensibly  chastens  the  feelings  and  invigorates  the  undeistand- 
iug,  while  it  instructs  and  amuses.     It  should  be  read,  every  word  of  it,  by  youth  of  both  sexes." 

Nos.<23and  24.— MARGARET  PERCIVAL.  A  Tale.  By  Miss  Sewell; 
author'  of  "  Amy  Herbert,"  "  Gertrude,"  etc.  2  vols.  Paper  cover,  ^-1  00  , 
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the. previous  efforts  of  the  authoress,  and  her  unexceptionable  views  of  religious  truths,  wiJl  need 
no  incentive  to  possess  themselves  of  this  volume." 

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author  of  "  History  of  France,"  "  Life  of  Luther,"  etc.  Paper  cover,  50  cts ; 
cloth,  75  cents. 

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the  author  has-been  enabled  to  achieve  without  detriment  to  the  interest  of  his  narrative,  and  the 
life-like  manner  in  which  the  social  condition  of  the  Roman  people  is  exhibited.  'It  possesses  all 
the  charms  of  a.  well- written  romance,  with  the  solid  attractions  of  veritable  history." 

N0..26.— THE  FAIRY  BOWER  ;  or  The  History  of  a  Month.  A  Tale.  By 
the  author  of  "  The  Lost  Broach,"  "  Louisa,"  etc.  From  the  third  English 
edition.     Paper  cover,  50  cts. ;   cloth,  75  cents. 

"  It  is  a  tale  for  young  people,  one  of  high  moral  tone,  and  great  artistic  merit.  We  .speak 
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bert," and  Miss  Sewell's  other,  works,  will  welcome  its  publication,  and  find  it  a  volume  sur- 
passed by  none  of  the  kind  in  fitness. for  their  children's  perusal.  A  few  copies  of  the  English 
editions  have  from  time  to  time  heretofore  found  their  readers  among  us,  and  such  persons  we  are 
sure  will  join  us  in  welcoming  its  republication." — Tlie  Churchman. 

No.  27.— A  SUMMER  IN  THE  WILDERNESS  ;  Embracing  a  Canoe 
Voyage  up  the  Mississippi  and  around  Lake  Superior.  By  Charles  Lanman, 
author  of  "  Essays  for  Summer  Hours,"  etc. 

"  Mr.  Lanman's  new  book  of  Travels  is  in  many  respects  the  best  work  from  his  pen  ;  it  con- 
tains much  original  and  novel  matter. 

No.  28.— AUNT  KITTY'S  TALES.  By  Maria  J.  McIntosh,  author  of 
"  Two  Lives,"  etc.  A  new  revised  edition.  1  vol.  l2mo.  Paper  cover,  50 
cents  ;  cloth,  75  cents. 

"  These  tales  are.  Blind  Mice,  or  Do  Right  if  you  wish  to  be  Happy ;  Jessie  OraJiam,  or 
Friends  Dear,  but  Truth  Dearer  ;  Florence  Mrnott,  or  Is  She  Generous  ?  Grace  and  Clara,  or 
Be  Just  as  well  as  Generous  ;  and  Ellen  Leslie,  or  The  Reward  of  Self-Control.  We  have 
used  every  occasion  for  saying  that  these  tales  are  among  the  best,  if  they  'are  not  the  best 
writings  of  the  kind,  for  the  young.  The  stories  are  natural,  simple  in  their  incidents,  full  of 
practical  lessons,  and  imbued  with  the  best  moral  and  religious  tone;  while  the  style  and  man 
ner  of  the  writer  is  pleasing  and  graceful." 


JOHN    EVELYN'S   LIFE    OF 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN. 


THE    LIFE    OF 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN 


BY    JOHN    EVELYN 


OF  WOOTTON  ESQ. 


Now  first  published  and 

Edited  by  Samuel  Lord  Bishop  of  Oxford 

Chancellor  of  the  Most  Noble 
Order  of  the  Garter 


NEW-YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  &,  COMPANY,  200  BROADWAY. 

PHILADELPHIA  '. 

Gt:0.  S.  APPLETON,  148  CHESNUT-ST. 

MDCCCXLVn. 


52368 


To  His  Grace 

EDWARD, 

Lord  Archbishop  of  York,  Lord  High  Almoner, 

&c. 

My  Lord  Archbishop, 

Your  Grace  will,  I  trust,  allow  me  to  inscribe  the 
following  pages  to  you. 

Your  unmerited  kindness,  shown  to  me  on  many 
other  occasions,  intrusted  them  to  me  for  publication  ; 
and  I  welt  know  that  whilst  your  Grace  has  felt  that  the 
light  of  such  an  example  as  they  exhibit  ought  not  to 
be  concealed,  you  rejoice  to  know  that  you  have  lived  to 
see  a  British  Court  which  in  purity  of  morals  and 
domestic  virtue  affords  the  most  blessed  contrast  to  those 
evil  days  through  which  Margaret  Godolphin  was  ena- 
bled to  live  in  the  brightness  of  a  godly  purity,  and  to 

die  in  peace. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be, 

Your  Grace's  obliged  and 

affectionate 

S.  OxoN  : 

Cuddesdon  Palace, 

Feb.  1847. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  following  Memoir  was  drawn  up  by  the  ac- 
complished John  Evelyn,  of  Wootton,  and  intended  by 
him  for  publication ;  but  it  never  received  his  final 
corrections.  In  a  manuscript  paper  of  memoranda 
left  at  Wootton  in  Mr.  Evelyn's  hand- writing,  its  title 
occurs  in  a  list  of  '•'  Things  I  would  write  out  faire  and 
reform  if  I  had  the  leisure."  In  his  family,  the  MS. 
has  remained  until  the  present  time,  having  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Evelyn's  great-great-grandson,*  His 
Grace  the  Honourable  Edward  Venables- Vernon  Har- 
court.  Lord  Archbishop  of  York,  by  whom  it  has  been 
intrusted  for  publication  to  the  care  of  the  present  Editor. 
The  MS.  which  is  written  with  extraordinary  care  and 
neatness,  and  apparently  in  Mr.  Evelyn's  own  hand- 

*  See  Table  V.  p.  151. 


INTRODUCTION. 


writing,  has  been  printed  almost  as  it  stands.  The 
original  spelling,  which  is  not  uniform  throughout  the 
volume,  has  been  preserved  wherever  its  strangeness 
did  not  throw  some  obscurity  over  the  meaning  of  the 
passage.  A  few  words  which  here  and  there  were 
"heedful  to  complete  the  sense  have  been  conjecturally 
inserted,  but  always  in  brackets. 

The  text  is  illustrated  by  two  genealogical  tables,  a 
short  sketch  of  the  life  of  Sir  George  Blagge,  and  a 
valuable  body  of  illustrative  notes,  which  the  Editor 
owes  to  the  accurate  and  well-furnished  pen  of  John 
Holmes,  Esq.  of  the  British  Museum,  who  has  kindly 
contributed  them  to  this  volume. 

From  the  genealogical  table  it  will  be  seen,  that 
Mrs.  Godolphin  sprang  from  an  ancient  and  honourable 
house,  and  that  her  blood  still  flows  in  the  veins  of 
some  of  the  most  illustrious  of  the  nobility  of  England. 
Her  husband,  who  rose  to  the  highest  honours  of  the 
state,  was  early  left  a  widower,  and,  surviving  his  wife 
thirty-four  years,  never  remarried.  He  transmitted  to 
Francis,  their  only  child,  the  earldom  of  Godolphin. 
This  Francis,  2nd  Earl  of  Godolphin,  married  Hen- 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 


rietta  Churchill,  eldest  daughter  and  co-heir  of  John 
Duke  of  Marlborough,  to  whom  in  her  own  right  passed 
the  dukedom  of  Marlborough.  By  the  death  without 
issue  of  William  Godolphin,  first,  Viscount  Rialton,  and 
afterwards,  Marquis  of  Blandford, — their  only  son  who 
attained  to  manhood, — the  honours  of  the  house  of 
Marlborough  passed  to  the  family  of  Spencer  from  the 
descendants  of  Margaret  Godolphin.  By  the  marriage 
of  Mary  the  heiress  of  the  2nd  Lord  Godolphin  to 
Thomas  the  4th  Duke  of  Leeds,  her  name  and  blood 
passed  into  the  succession  of  that  illustrious  house. 

But  it  was  not  for  gentle  descent  or  noble  alliance 
that  Margaret  Godolphin  was  the  most  remarkable  or 
best  deserves  remembrance.  Rather  did  she  add  dis- 
tinction to  an  ancient  line,  and  transmit  to  all  her  pos- 
terity that  memory  of  her  virtues  and  inheritance  of 
good  deeds  without  which  titles  and  hereditaiy  rank 
are  but  splendid  contradictions  and  conspicuous  blem- 
ishes. 

Her  lot  was  cast  in  the  darkest  age  of  England's 
morals ;  she  lived  in  a  court  where  flourished  in  their 
rankest  luxuriance  all  the  vice  and  littleness,  which  the 


XU  INTRODUCTION. 


envy  of  detractors  without,  has  ever  loved  to  impute — 
and  at  times,  thank  God,  with  such  utter  falsehood — 
to  courts  in  general. 

In  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  that  revulsion 
of  feeling  which  affects  nations  just  as  it  does  indi- 
viduals had  plunged  into  dissipation  all  ranks  on  their 
escape  from  the  narrow  austerities  and  gloomy  sourness 
of  puritanism.  The  court,  as  was  natural,  shared  to  the 
full  in  these  new  excesses  of  an  unrestrained  indulgence ; 
whilst  many  other  influences  led  to  its  wider  corrup- 
tion. The  foreign  habits  contracted  in  their  banish- 
ment by  the  returning  courtiers  were  ill  suited  to  the 
natural  gravity  of  English  manners,  and  introduced  at 
once  a  wide-spread  licentiousness.  The  personal  char- 
acter, moreover,  of  the  King  helped  on  the  general  cor- 
ruption. Gay,  popular,  and  witty,  with  a  temper 
nothing  could  cross,  and  an  affability  nothing  could 
repress,  he  was  thoroughly  sensual,  selfish,  and  de- 
praved— ^vice  in  him  was  made  so  attractive  by  the  wit 
and  gaiety  with  which  it  was  tricked  out,  that  its  ut- 
most grossness  seemed  for  the  time  rather  to  win  than 
to  repulse  beholders.  Around  the  King  clustered  a 
band  of  congenial  spirits,  a  galaxy  of  corruption,  who 


>  k  I 


INTRODUCTION.  Xlll 


spread  the  pollution  upon  every  side.  The  names  of 
Buckingham  and  Rochester,  of  Etheridge,  Lyttelton> 
and  Sedley,  still  maintain  a  bad  pre-eminence  in  the 
annals  of  English  vice.  As  far  as  the  common  eye 
could  reach  there  was  little  to  resist  the  evil.  The' 
Duke  of  York,  the  next  heir  to  the  throne,  a  cold» 
hearted  libertine,  shared  the  vices  of  the  King,  without 
the  poor  gloss  of  his  social  attractions.  It  was  the  day 
of  England's  deepest  degradation,  when  in  private  life 
morality  was  a  reproach,  truth  departed,  and  religion  a 
jest ;  when  in  affairs  of  state  French  gold  and  foreign 
influence  had  corrupted  and  subdued  the  throned  mon- 
arch,  and  England's  King  was  daily  losing  what  had 
been  gained  by  the  Protector  of  the  Commonwealth, 

It  was  a  day  of  heartless  merriment,  upon  which 
fell  suddenly  a  night  of  blackness,  which  swallowed  up 
its  crew  of  godless  revellers.  A  picture  more  deeply 
tragical  than  that  thus  simply  sketched  by  Mr.  Evelyn 
at  the  end,  of  Charles  himself,  can  scarcely  be  con- 
ceived. "  I  can  never  forget  the  inexpressible  luxury 
and  prophaneness,  gaming  and  all  dissoluteness,  and  as  it 
were  total  forgetfulness  of  God  (it  being  Sunday  even- 
ing)  which  this  day  se'nnight  I  was  witness  of,  the 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 


King  sitting  and  toying  with  his  concubines,  Ports- 
mouth, Cleaveland,  and  Mazarine,  &c.  a  French  boy 
singing  love  songs  in  that  glorious  gallery,  whilst  about 
20  of  the  great  courtiers  and  other  dissolute  persons 
were  at  Basset  round  a  large  table,  a  bank  of  at  least 
2000  in  gold  before  them,  upon  which  two  gentlemen 
who  were  with  me  made  reflexions  with  astonishment. 
Six  days  after  was  all  in  the  dust." 

Evelyn's  Diary,  Feb.  1684-5. 


In  the  midst  of  such  a  general  reign  of  wickedness, 
it  is  most  refreshing  to  the  wearied  spirit  to  find  by 
closer  search  some  living  witnesses  for  truth  and  holi- 
ness— some  who,  through  God's  Grace,  passed  at  His 
call  their  vexed  days  amongst  the  orgies  of  that  crew, 
as  untainted  by  its  evils,  as  is  the  clear  sunbeam  by  the 
corruption  of  a  loathsome  atmosphere.  Such  an  one 
was  Margaret  Godolphin,  whom  neither  the  license  of 
those  evil  days,  nor  the  scandal  and  detraction  with 
which  they  abounded,  ever  touched  in  spirit  or  in 
reputation.  Verily  she  walked  in  the  flames  of  "  the 
fiery  furnace  and  felt  no  hurt,  neither  did  the  smell  of 
fire  pass  upon  her." 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 


In  what  strength  she  lived  this  Hfe  the  following 
pages  will  declare.  They  will  show  that  ever  by  her 
side,  conversing  with  her  spirit  through  its  living  faith, 
there  was  a  fourth  form  like  unto  the  Son  of  God. 
And  one  thing  for  our  instruction  and  encouragement 
may  here  be  specially  noted :  that  in  that  day  of  reproach 
she  was  a  true  daughter  of  the  Church  of  England. 
Puritanism  did  not  contract  her  soul  into  moroseness  ; 
nor  did  she  go  to  Rome  to  learn  the  habits  of  devotion. 
In  the  training  of  our  own  Church  she  found  enough  of 
God's  teaching  to  instruct  her  soul ;  in  its  lessons  she 
found  a  rule  of  holy  self-denying  obedience ;  in  its 
prayers  a  practice  of  devotion  ;  in  its  body  a  fellow- 
ship with  saints ;  in  its  ordinances  a  true  communion 
with  her  God  and  Saviour  ;  which  were  able  to  main- 
tain in  simple,  unaffected  purity  her  faith  at  court,  in 
dutiful,  active  love  her  married  life  ;  which  sufficed  to 
crown  her  hours  of  bitter  anguish  and  untimely  death 
with  a  joyful  resignation  and  assured  waiting  for  her 
crown. 

Such  is  the  sketch  presented  in  these  pages  to  the 
reader.     May  he  in  a  better  day  learn  in  secret,  for 


XVI  INTRODUCTION. 


himself,  those  lessons  of  heavenly  w^isdom  which 
adorned  the  life  and  glorified  the  death  of  Margaret 
Godolphin. 


THE    LIFE 

OF 

MRS.  GODOLPHIN. 


Vn  Dieu  vn  Amy. 


Madam, 

I  am  not  vnmindfull  of  what  your  Ladyship  lately 
suggested  to  me  concerning  that  blessed  Saint  now  in 
heaven.  Doe  you  beleive  I  need  be  incited  to  preserve 
the  memoiy  of  one  whose  Image  is  soe  deeply  printed 
in  my  heart  ?  Butt  you  would  have  a  more  perma- 
nent Record  of  her  perfections,  and  soe  would  I ;  not 
onely  for  the  veneration  wee  beare  her  precious  Ashes, 
butt  for  the  good  of  those  who,  emulous  of  her  vertues, 
would  pursue  the  Instance  of  it,  in  this,  or  perhapps 
any  age  before  it.  'Tis  certaine  the  materialls  I  have 
by  me  would  furnish  one  who  were  Master  of  a  Stile 
becomeing  soe  admirable  a  Subject :  and  wish'd  I  have, 
a  thousand  tymes,  the  person  in  the  world  who  knew 
her  best,  and  most  she  loved,  would  give  vs  the  picture 
his  pencill  could  best  delineat :  if  such  an  Artist  as 
he  is  decline  the  vndertakeing,  for  fear  that  even  with 
all  his  skill  he  should  not  reach  the  originall,  how  farr 
short  am  I  like  to  fall,  who  cannot  pretend  to  the 
meanest  of  his  Talents.  But  as  indignation  (they  say) 
sometymes  creats  a  poem  where  there  is  no  natural! 

2 


THE    LIFE    OF 


disposition  in  the  composer ;  soe  a  mighty  obligation,  a 
holy  tVeindshipp,  and  your  Ladyshipp's  comands,  irre- 
sistibly prevaile  with  me  rather  to  hazard  the  censure 
of  my  Imperfections,  then  to  disobey  you,  or  suffer 
those  precious  memoryes  to  be  lost  which  deserve  con- 
secration to  Eternity  :  'tis  then  the  least  and  last  ser- 
vice  1   can  express  to  a  dyeing  friend  for  whom  I 
should   not  have  refused  even  to  dye  my  selfe.     Butt, 
Madam,  you  will  not  expect  I  should  be  soe  exactly 
particular  in  the  minuter  circumstances  of  her  birth 
and  what  past  in  her  Infancy  and  more  tender  years, 
because,  [though]  I  have  sometimes  told  her  pleasantly 
I   would  write   her  life,  when  God  knowes   I   little 
thought  of  surviveing  her  whome  often  I  have  wished 
might  be  att  the  closeing  of  myne  owne  Eyes,  I  had 
not  the  honor  of  being  acquainted  with  her  till  the 
last  seaven  years  of  her  life  ;  I  say  the  httle  expecta- 
tion I  had  of  erecting  to  her  a  monument  of  this  nature, 
made  me  not  soe  Industrious  to  Informe  my  selfe  of 
what  was  past  as  I  should  have  beene,  for  I  arri  per- 
swaded  that  from  the  begining  something  of  exterord- 
nary  remarkeable  was  all  along  conspicuous  in  her ; 
nor  was  it  possible  that  my  admiration  of  her  vertues, 
when  I  came  to  know  her,  should  not  have  prompted 
me  to  enquire  concerneing  many  particulars  of  her  life 
before  I  knew  her  ;  something  I  learned  casually  con- 
versing with  her,  diverse  things  from  the  papers  comu- 
nicated  to  me  since  her  decease,  and  from  what  your 
Ladyshipp  has  Informed  me  ;  from  whome  I  might 
derive  ample  matter  to  furnish  vpon  this  subject ;  butt, 
as  I  said,  it  would  become  a  steadier  hand  and  the 
penn  of  an  Angells  wing  to  describe  the  life  of  a  Saint, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN. 


who  is  now  amongst  those  Illustrious  orders:  butt, 
Madam,  'tis  your  peremptorye  Comand,  I  should  sett 
downe  what  I  know,  and  how  diffident  soever  I  ought 
to  be  of  acquitting  my  selfe  as  I  should,  yett  since  'tis 
hardly  possible  to  say  any  thing  soe  indifferently,  butt 
must  raise  an  Emulation  in  those  that  read  or  hear  of 
it  to  Imitate  her  vertues,  [I  enter]  vpon  the  adventure. 

Where  this  excellent  creature  was  borne,  I  have 
learned  from  you  ;  when,  from  herselfe  ;  namely,  as  I 
remember,  on  the  Second  of  August,  in  the  year  1652 ; 
a  month  and  a  year  never  to  be  forgotten  by  me  with- 
out a  mixture  of  different  passions,  for  then  had  I  born 
that  child  whose  early  hopes  you  have  often  heard  me 
deplore  the  loss  of,  nor  doe  I  yett  remember  him  with- 
out emotion. 

'Tis  not  to  informe  your  Ladyshipp  of  a  thing  you 
doe  not  know,  butt  for  methods  sake,  that  I  speake 
something  of  the  family  of  this  Lady,  which  was  very 
honorable :  her  father  was  CoUonell  Thomas  Blagge, 
a  Gent,  of  an  ancient  Suffolke  family,  and  a  person 
of  soe  exterordnary  witt  and  signal  Loyalty,  as  not 
only  made  him  esteemed  by  that  blessed  Martyr  Charles 
the  First,  being  made  Groome  of  his  Bedd  Chamber, 
butt  to  be  intrusted  with  one  of  his  principall  Garrisons, 
namely  that  of  Wallingford,  dureing  the  late  rebeUion. 
How  worthyly  he  acquitted  himselefe  of  that  charge 
in  that  unhappy  warr,  is  upon  another  monumental 
Record.  Hee  lived  to  see  his  Majestye  who  now  raignes 
restored  to  his  Kingdomes  and  to  dye  in  his  favour. 
Mrs.  Blagge,  his  Lady,  (Mother  to  our  Saint)  was  a 


THE    LIFE    OF 


woman  soe  eminent  in  all  the  vertues  and  perfections 
of  her  sex,  that  it  were  hard  to  say  whether  were 
snperior  her  Beauty,  Witt,  or  Piety ;  for,  as  I  have  heard 
from  those  Avho  intimately  knew  her,  she  was  in  all 
these  very  like  her  daughter,  and  then  I  am  sure  there 
could  nothing  be  added  to  render  her  a  most  admirable 
person.  The  iniquitye  of  the  tymes  had  acquainted 
her  with  sorrow  enough  to  have  distracted  her,  being 
left  butt  in  difficult  circumstances,  yett  she  lived  to 
discharge  all  her  husband's  engagements  that  were 
very  considerable,  and  to  provide  an  honourable  com- 
petency for  noe  less  then  3  young  daughters,  whereof 
this  was  the  youngest. 

Itt  was  by  this  excellent  mother  that  this  rare  child 
was  as  early  instituted  in  the  fear  of  God  as  she  could 
speake  :  and  as  her  exterordnary  discernment  soone 
advanced  to  a  great  and  early  sense  of  Religion,  soe 
she  brought  her  to  be  confirmed  by  the  now  Lord 
Bishopp  of  Ely,  Doctor  Gunning,  who  itt  appeares  was 
soe  surprized  att  those  early  Graces  he  discovered  in 
her,  that  he  thought  fitt  she  should  be  admitted  to  the 
holy  Sacrament  when  she  was  hardly  Eleaven  years 
of  Age :  from  that  moment  forwards,  young  and 
sprightfull  as  she  was,  she  was  observed  to  live  with 
great  circumspection,  prescribeing  to  herselfe  a  constant 
method  of  devotion,  and  certaine  dayes  of  abstinence, 
that  she  might  the  better  vacate  to  holy  dutyes  and 
gaine  that  mastery  over  her  appetite,  which,  with  all 
other  passions,  she  had  strangely  subdued  to  niy  often 
admiration.  Butt  I  should  have  told  your  Ladyshipp, 
though  I  remember  not  on  what  occasion,  she  went 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN. 


with  the  old  Dutchess  of  Richmond  into  France,  who 
consign'd  her  to  the  care  of  the  late  Countess  of  Guil- 
ford, Groome  of  the  Stoole  to  the  late  Queens  Mother, 
with  whome  she  continued  till  her  Majestye  came  into 
England  :  And  this  minds  me  of  what  I  have  heard, 
that  being  frequently  tempted  by  that  Bygott  proseli- 
tesse  to  go  to  Masse,  and  be  a  papist,  our  young  Saint 
would  not  only  not  be  perswaded  to  it,  but  asserted  her 
better  faith  with  such  readiness  and  constancy,  (as 
according  to  the  argument  of  that  keen  Religion) 
caused  her  to  be  rudely  treated  and  menaced  by  the 
Countess ;  soe  as  she  was  become  a  Confessor  and 
almost  a  Martyr  before  she  was  7  years  old.  This 
passage  I  have  from  her  selfe  and  she  would  relate  it 
with  pretty  circumstances ;  but  long  staid  she  not  in 
France  ;  when  being  returned  to  her  mother,  she  lived 
with  her  sometyme  in  London,  till  the  raigneing  pesti- 
lence of  Sixty-five  breakeing  out,  every  body  retireing 
into  the  Country,  she  accompanyed  her  into  SufFolke 
amongst  her  fathers  Relations  there,  and  past  the  Re- 
cess with  soe  much  order  and  satisfaction,  that  with 
exterordnary  regrett  she  was  taken  notice  of  to  quitt  it ; 
when  being  demanded  by  the  then  Dutchess  of  Yorke 
for  a  Maid  of  Honour,  her  Mother  was  prevailed  with 
to  place  her  little  Daughter  att  Court.  This  was 
indeed  a  surprizeing  change  of  Aire,  and  a  perilous 
CUmate,  for  one  soe  very  young  as  she,  and  scarcely 
yett  attained  to  the  twelvth  year  of  her  age :  butt  by 
how  much  more  the  danger  soe  much  greater  the  vir- 
tue and  discretion  which  not  only  preserved  her  steady 
in  that  giddy  Station,  but  soe  improv'd,  that  the  exam- 
ple of  this  little  Saint  influenced  not  onely  her  honour- 


THE    LIFE    OF 


able  companions,  butt  some  who  were  advanc'd  in 
yeares  before  her,  and  of  the  most  illustrious  quality. 
What !  shall  I  say,  she  like  a  young  Apostless  began 
to  plant  Religion  in  that  barren  Soyle  ?  Arethusa 
pass'd  thro'  all  those  turbulent  waters  without  soe 
much  as  the  least  staine  or  tincture  in  her  Christall, 
with  her  Piety  grew  vp  her  Witt,  which  was  soe 
sparkling,  accompanyed  with  a  Judgment  and  Elo- 
quence soe  exterordnary,  a  Beauty  and  Ayre  soe 
charmeing  and  lovely,  in  a  word,  an  Address  soe  vni- 
versally  takeing,  that  after  few  years,  the  Court  never 
saw  or  had  seen  such  a  Constellation  of  perfections 
amongst  all  their  splendid  Circles.  Nor  did  this,  nor 
the  admiration  it  created,  the  E logics  she  every  day 
received,  and  application  of  the  greatest  persons,  at  all 
elate  her ;  she  was  still  the  same,  allwayes  in  perfect 
good  humour,  allwayes  humble,  allwayes  Religious  to 
exactness.  Itt  rendred  her  not  a  whitt  moross,  tho' 
sometymes  more  serious,  casting  still  about  how  she 
might  continue  the  houres  of  publique  and  private 
devotion  and  other  exercises  of  piety,  to  comply  with 
her  duty  and  attendance  on  her  Royall  Mistress  with- 
out singularity  or  Reproach. 

Thus  pass'd  she  her  tyme  in  that  Court  till  the  Dutch- 
ess dyed,  dureing  whose  Sickness,  accompanyed  (as  it 
was)  with  many  vncomfortable,  circumstances,  she 
waited  and  attended  with  an  exterordnary  sedulity,  and 
as  she  has  sometymes  told  me,  when  few  of  the  rest 
were  able  to  endure  the  fatigue  :  and  therefore  here,  be- 
fore I  proceed,  I  cannot  but  take  notice  of  those  holy 
and  exterordnary  reflections  she  made  upon  this  occa- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN. 


sion,  as  I  find  them  amongst  other  loose  papers  vn- 
der  her  owne  faire  hand,  when  compareing  her  dear 
Mother's  sickness  and  other  freinds  departure  with  that 
of  the  Dutchess,  thus  she  writes. 

"  Mrs.  N.  dead,  was  an  example  of  patience  vnder 
a  burthen  that  was  well  nigh  vnsupportable  ;  often  she 
received  the  blessed  Sacrament,  often  she  prayed  and 
was  very  much  resign'd,  not  surprized  nor  in  confusion, 
but  perceiveing  her  sight  decay,  calling  vpon  God  after 
many  holy  and  pious  discourses  and  exhortations,  she 
calmely  bidd  her  freinds  farewell. 

"  A  poore  woman  dead,  worne  to  skyn  and  bones 
with  a  consumption,  she  made  noe  Complaints,  but 
trusted  in  God,  and  that  what  ^^  thought  fitt  was  best, 
and  to  him  resign'd  her  soule.  A  poore  creature  that 
had  been  a  great  sinner,  died  in  misserable  paines,  in 
exceeding  terror ;  God  was  gracious  to  her,  she  was 
patient,  very  devout,  she  was  released  in  prayer.  My 
mother  dead,  at  first  surprized,  and  very  vnwilling ; 
she  was  afterwards  resign'd,  received  often,  prayed 
much,  had  holy  things  read  to  her,  delighted  in  hea- 
venly discourse,  desired  to  be  dissolv'd  and  be  with 
Christ,  ended  her  life  chearfully,  and  without  paine, 
left  her  family  in  order  and  was  much  lamented. 

''The  D  —  dead,  a  princess,  honoured  in  power, 
had  much  witt,  much  mony,  much  esteeme  ;  she  was 
full  of  vnspeakable  tortur,  and  died  (poore  creature)  in 
doubt  of  her  Religion,  without  the  Sacrament,  or  divine 
by  her,  like  a  poore  wretch  ;  none  remembred  her  after 


8  THE    I-IFE    OF 


one  weekc,  none  sorry  for  her  ;  she  was  tost  and  flung 
about,  and  every  one  did  what  they  would  with  that 
stately  carcase.  What  is  this  world,  what  its  great- 
ness, what  to  be  esteemed,  or  thought  a  witt?  Wee 
shall  all  be  stript  without  sence  or  remembrance.  But 
God,  if  wee  serve  him  in  our  health,  will  give  vs  pa- 
tience in  our  Sickness." 

I  repeate  the  instance  as  sett  downe  in  her  diarye, 
to  shew  how  early  she  made  these  uscfull  and  pious 
Recollections,  for  she  must  needs  be  then  very  young, 
and  att  an  age  att  least  when  very  few  of  her  sex,  and 
in  her  circumstances,  much  concerne  themselves  with 
these  mortifyeing  reflections.  Butt,  as  I  have  often 
heard  her  say,  she  loved  to  be  att  funeralls,  and  in  the 
house  of  mourning,  soe  being  of  the  most  compassion- 
ate nature  in  the  world,  she  was  a  constant  visiter  of 
the  sick  and  of  people  in  distress.  But,  to  proceed  ; 
she  had  not  been  above  two  yeares  att  Court  before  her 
virtue,  beauty,  and  witt  made  her  be  looked  vpon  as  a 
little  miracle  ;  and  indeed  there  were  some  addresses 
made  her  of  the  greatest  persons,  not  from  the  attrac- 
tion of  affected  Charmes,  for  she  was  ever,  att  that 
sprightfull  and  free  age,  severely  carefull  how  she 
might  give  the  least  countenance  to  that  liberty  which 
the  Gallants  there  doe  vsually  assume  of  talking  with 
less  reserve  ;  nor  did  this  ecclipse  her  pretty  humour, 
which  was  chearfull  and  easy  amongst  those  she 
thought  worthy  her  conversation.  Itt  is  not  to  be  de- 
scribed (for  it  was  tho'  naturall,  in  her  ^?^imitable)  with 
what  Grace,  ready  and  solid  vnderstanding,  she  would 
discourse.     Nothing  that  she  conceived  could  be  better 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  9 


expressed,  and  when  she  was  sometymes  provok'd  to 
Railly,  there  was  nothing  in  the  w^orld  so  pleasant,  and. 
inoffensively  diverting,  (shall  I  say)  or  instructive  ;  for 
she  ever  mingl'd  her  freest  entertainments  with  some- 
thing which  tended  to  serious,  and  did  it  in  such  a 
manner,  as  allwayes  left  some  impressions  exterordnary 
even  vpon  those  who  came  perhapps  with  inclinations 
to  pervert  the  most  harmeless  conversations  ;  soe  as  it 
was  impossible  for  any  to  introduce  a  syllable  which 
did  not  comply  with  the  strictest  rules  of  decency. 

But  I  shall  not  be  soe  well  able  to  describe  what  I 
should  say  upon  this  occasion,  as  by  giveing  your  La- 
dyshipp  the  measures  which  she  prescrib'd  herselfe  for 
the  government  of  her  Actions,  when  she  was  of  duty 
to  attend  vpon  her  Majestye  in  publique,  and  when  it 
was  not  only  impossible,  but  vnbecomeing  to  entertaine 
those  who  composed  the  Royall  Circle,  and  were  per- 
sons of  the  most  illustrious  qualitye,  without  censure 
and  rudeness.  Behold  then,  Madam,  what  I  find  writ- 
ten in  her  owne  hands  againe.  and  that  might  be  a 
coppy  for  all  that  succeed  her  in  that  honourable  Sta- 
tion to  transcribe  and  imitate  it ;  for  she  kept  not  onely 
a  most  acourate  account  of  all  her  actions,  butt  did  like- 
wise register  her  serious  purposes  and  resolutions,  the 
better  to  confirme  and  fix  them,  soe  as  they  were  not 
hasty  fitts  of  zeale  and  sudden  transports,  but  sollemne 
and  deliberate  ;  and  this  I  rather  chuse  to  doe  alsoe  in 
her  owne  very  words  and  method,  innocent,  naturall, 
and  vnaffected. 


10  THE    LIFE    OF 


"  My  life,  hy  God's  Grace,  without  which  I  can  doe 

nothing. 

"  I  must,  till  Lent,  rise  att  halfe  an  houre  after  eight 
a  clock  ;  whilst  putting  on  morning  cloathes,  say  the 
prayer  for  Death  and  the  Te  Deum :  then  presently  to 
my  prayers,  and  soe  either  dress  my  selfe  or  goe  to 
Church  prayers.  In  dressing,  I  must  consider  how  lit- 
tle it  signifyes  to  the  saveing  of  my  soule,  and  how 
foolish  'tis  to  be  angry  about  a  thing  so  unneces- 
sary. Consider  what  our  Saviour  suffered. — O  Lord, 
assist  me. 

"  When  I  goe  into  the  withdrawing  roome,  lett  me 
consider  what  my  caUing  is  :  to  entertaine  the  Ladys, 
not  to  talke  foolishly  to  Men,  more  especially  the  King  ; 
lett  me  consider,  if  a  Traytor  be  hatefull,  she  that  be- 
trayes  the  soule  of  one  is  much  worse  ; — the  danger, 
the  sin  of  it.  Then  without  pretending  to  witt,  how 
quiet  and  pleasant  a  thing  it  is  to  be  silent,  or  if  I  doe 
speake,  that  it  be  to  the  Glory  of  God. — Lord,  as- 
sist me. 

"  Att  Church  lett  me  mind  in  what  place  I  am  ; 
what  about  to  ask,  even  the  salvation  of  my  soule  ;  to 
whome  I  speak, — to  the  God  that  made  me,  redeemed 
and  sanctifyed  me.  and  can  yett  cutt  me  off"  when  he 
pleases. — O  Lord,  assist  me. 

"When  I  goe  to  my  Lady  Falmouths,  I  ought  to 
take  paines  with  her  about  her  Religion,  or  else  I  am 
not  her  friend  ;  to  shew  example  by  calmness  in  dis- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  11 


pute,  in  never  speaking  ill  of  anybody  to  her,  butt  ex- 
cuseing  them  rather. 

'•  Goe  to  the  Q^ueene  allwayes  att  nine,  and  then 
read  that  place  concerning  the  drawing  roome,  and 
lett  my  man  waite  for  me  to  bring  me  word  before  pub- 
lique  prayers  begin.  If  I  find  she  dynes  late,  come 
downe,  pray  and  read,  namely,  that  concerning  pray- 
er ;  and  think  why  I  read,  to  benefitt  my  soule,  pass 
my  tyme  well,  and  improve  my  understanding. — O 
Lord,  assist  me. 

'•'  Be  sure  still  to  read  that  for  the  drawing  roome  in 
the  privy  chamber,  or  presence,  or  other  place  before 
prayers,  and  soe  againe  into  the  drawing  room  for  an 
hour  or  soe  ;  and  then  slipp  to  my  chamber  and  divert 
myself  in  reading  some  pretty  booke,  because  the 
Queene  does  not  require  my  waiteing  ;  after  this  to 
supper,  which  must  not  be  much  if  I  have  dyned  well ; 
and  att  neither  meale  to  eate  above  two  dishes,  be- 
cause temperance  is  best  both  for  soule  and  body  ;  then 
goe  upp  to  the  Q,ueen,  haveing  before  read,  and  well 
thought  of  what  you  have  written.     Amen. 

"  Sett  not  up  above  halfe  an  hour  after  eleaven  att 
most ;  and  as  you  undress,  repeate  that  prayer  againe  ; 
butt  before,  consider  that  you  are  perhapps  goeing  to 
sleepe  your  last ;  being  in  bedd  repeate  your  hymne 
softly,  ere  you  turne  to  sleepe. 

"  If  I  awake  in  the  night  lett  me  say  that  (for  which 
she  had  collected  many  excellent  passages,  as  I  find 
among  her  papers,)  psalm.     Lord,  assist  me. 


12  THE    LIFE    OF 


*'  In  the  morning,  wakeing,  use  a  short  devotion 
and  then  as  soone  as  ever  you  awake,  rise  imediately 
to  praise  him.     The  Lord  assist  me." 

In  another  place  of  the  same  Diarye,  about  which 
tyme  I  suppose  there  was  some  play  to  be  acted  by  the 
maids  of  honour. — "  Now  as  to  pleasure,  they  are  speak- 
ing of  playes  and  laughing  att  devout  people  :  well,  I 
will  laugh  att  myselfe  for  my  impertinencyes,  that  by 
degrees  I  may  come  to  wonder  why  any  body  does 
like  me  ;  and  divert  the  discourse  ;  and  talke  of  God 
and  moralitye  :  avoid  those  people  when  I  come  into 
the  drawing  roome,  especially  among  great  persons  to 
divert  them  ;  because  noe  raillary  al Impost  can  be  in- 
nocent :  goe  not  to  the  Dutchess  of  Monmouth  above 
once  a  week,  except  when  wee  dress  to  rehearse,  and 
then  carry  a  booke  along  with  me  to  read  when  I  don't 
act,  and  soe  come  away  before  supper. 

"  Talke  little  when  you  are  there  ;  if  they  speak  of 
any  body  I  can't  commend,  hold  my  peace,  what  jest 
soever  they  make ;  be  sure  never  to  talk  to  the  King  ; 
when  they  speak  filthyly,  tho'  I  be  laugh'd  att,  looke 
grave,  remembring  that  of  Micha,  there  will  a  tyme 
come  when  the  Lord  will  bind  up  his  Jewells.  Never 
meddle  with  others  business,  nor  hardly  ask  a  ques- 
iion  ;  talk  not  slightly  of  religion.  If  you  speake  any 
thing  they  like,  say 'tis  borrowed,  and  be  humble  when 
commended.  Before  I  speake.  Lord,  assist  me  ;  when 
I  pray.  Lord,  heare  me  ;  when  I  am  praised,  God,  hum- 
ble me  ;  may  the  clock,  the  candle,  every  thing  I  see, 
instruct  me ;    Lord  cleanse  my  hands,  lett  my  feete 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  13 


tread  thy  pathes.  Is  any  body  laughed  att,  say  it  may 
be  my  case  ;  is  any  in  trouble,  say,  '  Lord,  in  justice  I 
deserve  it ;  butt  thou  art  all  mercy  ;  make  me  thank- 
full.'  On  Festivall  evens  I  resolve  to  dyne  att  home, 
and  to  repeat  all  the  psalmes  I  know  by  heart,"  (of 
which  she  had  almost  the  whole  psalter,)  "  reserveing 
my  reading  or  part  of  my  prayers  till  night ;  and  supp 
with  bread  and  beere  only. 

*•'  On  Frydayes  and  Wednesdaies  Tie  eat  nothing 
till  after  evening  prayer ;  and  soe  come  downe  as  soon 
as  ever  the  Q^ueene  has  dyned,  without  goeing  to  visitt, 
till  my  owne  prayers  are  finished. 

"  The  same  will  I  observe  the  day  before  I  receive; 
use  to  pray  on  those  dayes  by  daylight ;  and  early  on 
Sundayes,  and  think  of  no  diversion  till  after  evening 
prayer ;  to  dyne  abroad  as  little  as  possible,  but  per- 
forme  my  constant  duty  to  God  and  the  Glueene.  As- 
sist me,  O  Lord  ;  Amen. 

"  Sing  Psalmes  now  and  then  out  of  Sundayes. 
Endeavour  tobegg  with  teares  what  you  aske,  and  O 
lett  them  be,  O  Lord,  my  onely  pleasure.  There  are  3 
Sundayes  to  come  from  this  Saturday  night ;  pray  one 
day  earnestly  to  God  for  love,  and  against  takeing  his 
name  in  vaine,  pray  against  intemperance  and  sen- 
suality ;  and  the  other  day  for  meckeness,  and  against 
envy ;  another  for  fear  and  alliance,  and  against  de- 
traction. 

"  I  have  vowed,  if  it  be  possible,  not  to  sett  upp 
past  ten  o'clock  ;  therefore,  before  you  engage  in  com- 


14  THE    LIFE     OF 


pany,  goe  downe  and  read  this,  and  be  as  much  alone 
as  you  can  ;  and  when  you  are  abroad  talke  to  men 
as  Uttle  as  may  be  :  carry  your  prayer  booke  in  your 
pockettj  or  any  thing  that  may  decently  keepe  you  from 
converseing  with  men." 

Behold  what  this  blessed  saint  had  promiscuously 
sett  downe  in  her  diary  att  severall  tymes,  as  resolu- 
tions made  upon  severall  occasions,  all  of  them  tending 
to  the  institution  of  her  life  in  a  course  of  exterordnary 
and  early  piety,  for  she  was  now^  very  young,  and  I, 
therefore,  give  them  your  Ladyshipp  in  her  ownc 
method,  without  method  or  studied  connexion  :  nor 
are  these  the  first  I  have  scene  of  hers  in  this  nature. 
She  did  upon  several  occurrences  record  her  purposes, 
and  what  she  soe  resolved  she  punctually  perform'd. 
Butt  with  what  exterordnary  caution  she  governed 
herself  att  Court ;  how  holy,  innocent,  instructive,  and 
useful,  her  intire  conversation  was ;  how  much  she 
improved  in  virtue,  and  made  devotion  the  pleasure  as 
well  as  imployment  of  her  tyme,  I  need  not  tell  your 
Ladyshipp  :  nor  used  she  to  trick  and  dress  herselfe 
upp,  tho'  in  soe  splendid  and  vaine  a  theater,  to  the 
purposes  of  vanity,  or  to  be  fine  and  ador'd :  she  was 
extreami)^  shy  of  talking  among  the  gallants  and 
young  men,  to  pass  away  the  tediousness  of  attend- 
ance ;  nor  made  she  impertinent  visitts ;  for  she  had 
fill'd  vp  the  w^hole  day,  and  destin'd  almost  every  mi- 
nute of  it  to  exercise.  When,  therefore,  I  have  sum'd 
vp  all,  and  consider'd  well  how  much  of  it  all  I  have 
scene,  and  how  with  it  all  she  preserved  the  lively  and 
elegant  conversation  which  rendered  her  soe  infinitely 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  15 


agreeable  to  all  that  knew  her,  I  cannot  butt  redouble 
my  admiration  and  especially  how  often  and  sensible 
she  has  discoursed  with  me  concerning  the  wonderful 
satisfaction  she  took  in  the  dutyes  of  Religion. 

Butt  here,  before  I  proceed  any  further,  the  method 
of  tymCj  and  other  circumstances  require  me  to  say 
something  how  I  came  to  be  first  acquainted  with  this 
excellent  creature,  and  by  what  tyes  of  sacred  friend- 
shipp  I  find  my  selfe  soe  highly  obliged  to  celebrate 
her  memory ;  and  this  I  shall  doe  the  rather  because 
the  Lord  has  soe  great  a  part  in  itt,  that  without  in- 
gratitude, I  may  not  pass  it  over ;  nor  is  it  without 
fresh  delight  that  1  still  call  to  mind  those  innocent 
dayes,  and  the  sweet  conversation  which  fifteene  yeares 
since  wee  enjoyed,  that  our  familyes  being  neare  to  one 
another,  gave  us  the  happyness  to  be  knowne  to  the 
most  obligeing  neighbour  in  the  world  ;  from  soe  long 
a  date  it  is  that  my  wife  computes  her  first  haveing  had 
the  blessing  of  beginning  an  acquaintance  with  Mrs. 
Blagge,  whome  your  mother  and  sister  sometimes 
kindly  brought  with  them  to  our  poore  villa :  butt  few 
of  those  civilityes  of  casuall  or  respectfuU  visitts  had 
passed,  before  my  wife  had  discovered  such  exterord- 
nary  charmes,  markes  of  virtue  and  discretion  in  her 
conversation,  that  she  would  often  reprove  the  diffi- 
dence I  was  wont  to  express,  when  they  would  some- 
tymes  discourse  of  Piety  and  Religion,  eminent  among 
the  Court  Ladyes  ;  and  upon  which  subject  your  Lady- 
shipp  would  frequently  joine  with  my  wife  in  conflict 
against  me,  to  the  reproach  of  my  Moroseness,  and  In- 
fidelity, especially  of  a  thing  soe  airy  and  soe  gay  as 


16  THE    LIFE    OF 


some  represented  this  miracle  to  me.  And  in  this  Error 
I  had  certainly  persisted,  notwithstanding  1  had  some- 
tymes  taken  notice  of  her,  both  att  my  house  and  att 
Church,  to  be  a  very  agreeable  Lady ;  but  that  she 
or  any  body  else  in  her  Court  circumstances,  was 
principl'd  with  such  a  solid  Virtue,  and  did  cultivate  it 
to  that  degree,  I  was  brought  to  believe  with  soe  much 
difficulty,  that  it  was  almost  Seaven  yeares  before  your 
Ladyshipp  could  convince  me.  You  had,  indeed,  a 
Sister  there,  whose  perfections  would  no  longer  suffer 
me  to  continue  alltogeather  in  this  false  perswasion ; 
butt  to  believe  there  were  many  Saints  in  that  Country 
I  was  not  much  inclined  ;  nur  likely  had  chang'd  that 
opinion,  if  an  Imployment  had  not  of  necessity  some- 
tymes  obliged  me  to  come  from  my  Recess,  when  I  as 
little  affected  to  be  knowne  and  to  multiply  acquaint- 
ance of  that  sex  as  another  man.  I  minded  my 
Bookes  and  my  Garden,  and  the  Circle  was  bigg 
enough  for  me.  I  aspti'd  to  no  offices,  noe  titles,  noe 
favours  att  Court,  and  really  was  hardly  knowne  to 
those  next  neighbours  of  mine,  whome  I  had  lived  all- 
most  twenty  years  by  :  butt  the  Country  where  this 
Lady  lived  I  had  much  more  aversion  to,  for  the  rea- 
sons you  may  guess,  and  which  made  her  quitt  it  as 
soone  as  she  could.  'Twas,  I  say,  about  a  year  that 
she  had  sometymes  beene  att  my  house,  when  your 
Ladyshipp  came  to  hector  me  out  of  my  contracted 
humour,  but  I  continually  return'd  to  it ;  and  when,  by 
Chance,  you  att  any  tyme  nam'd  her.  I  fancied  her 
some  airy  thing,  that  had  more  Witt  than  Discretion  ; 
till  upon  your  Ladyshipp  and  my  Wifes  more  severely 
reproaching  me  for  being  scarcely  civill  to  a  Companion 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  17 


of  your  excellent  Sisters,  for  whome  I  had  much  es- 
teeme,  (though  but  little  acquainted,)  1  found  my  selfe 
oblig'd,  in  good  manners,  to  waite  upon  her  Avhen  I 
came  to  AYhitehall.  I  speake  of  the  Lady,  your  Sister, 
then  Maid  of  Honour :  for  T  would  object,  that  there 
was  a  Witt  with  her  whome  I  feared,  and  that  I  was 
the  most  unfitt  person  in  the  world  for  the  entertain- 
ments of  the  Anti  Chamber,  and  the  little  Spiritts  that 
dwell  in  Fairy  Land.  Yoii  assured  me  she  was  hum- 
ble and  Religious,  and  extreamly  serious,  and  that  [if] 
I  would  believe  you,  I  should  not  be  displeased  with 
the  adventure ;  for  tho'  she  had  abundance  of  Witt, 
and  rallied  shrewdly,  yett  she  was  civil  and  discreete, 
and  exterordnary  obligeing.  Ypon  this,  I  made  your 
Sister  a  visitt,  and  surprized  Mrs.  Blagge,  who  it  seems 
that  day  was  dressed  for  Audience  and  Ceremony, 
vpon  which  I  would  have  withdrawne,  butt  her  Cham- 
ber fellow  staid  me,  and  I  was  not  vn willing  to  hear 
her  talke  ;  but  I  since  came  to  understand,  it  was  a 
day  of  solemn  devotion  with  her,  and  she  excused  her 
selfe,  said  little,  and  look'd  very  humble,  which  I 
liked,  and  soe  for  this  tyme,  tooke  my  leave. 

I  concluded  by  this  she  mJght  not  be  that  pert  Lady 
I  had  fancyed  ;  and  she  afterwards  spake  curteously  to 
me,  casually  meeting  her  in  the  house,  and  that  she 
hoped  she  had  not  frighted  me  from  her  apartment.  I 
came  once  or  twice  after  this  with  my  wife  to  visitt 
your  Sister ;  when  this  Lady  keepeing  her  Chamber 
caused  me  one  day  to  dyne  with  her,  which  I  tooke 
kindly,  because  'twas  without  affectation  and  with  no 
danger  of  surfeiting.     Butt  her  conversation  was  a  treat, 


18  THE    LIFE    OF 


and  I  began  to  admire  her  temperance,  and  tooke  espe- 
ciall  notice,  that  however  wide  or  indifferent  the  subject 
of  our  discourse  was  amongst  the  rest,  she  would  all- 
wayes  divert  it  to  some  ReHgious  conchision  ;  and  soe 
temper  and  season  her  Replyes,  as  shew'd  a  gratious 
heart,  and  that  she  had  a  mind  wholly  taken  vp  with 
heavenly  thoughts. 

After  this  introduction  she  conjur'd  me  not  to  baulk 
her  holy  Cell,  and  I  was  not  a  little  pleased  to  be  soe 
solemnly  diverted  and  find  my  selfe  mistaken,  that  soe 
young,  soe  elegant,  soe  charming  a  Witt  and  Beauty 
should  preserve  soe  much  Virtue  in  a  place  where  it 
neither  naturally  grew  nor  much  was  cultivated  ;  for 
with  all  these  perfections,  Yivacitye  and  Apprehention 
beyond  what  I  could  expect,  she  seemed  vnconcerned 
and  steady,  could  endure  to  be  serious,  and  gently  re- 
prove my  Morossness,  and  was  greatly  devout,  which 
putt  me  out  of  all  feare  of  her  Railary,  and  made  me 
vpon  her  with  exterordnary  respect.  Thus  every  visitt 
abated  of  my  prejudice  :  her  discourses  were  not  tri- 
fleing  and  effeminate,  butt  full  of  Yirtue  and  materiall, 
and  of  a  most  tender  regard  to  Religion.  Butt  itt  was 
after  your  Ladyshipps  Mother  was  gone  into  Lincoln- 
sheir,  and  had  carryed  away  her  companion,  that  she 
told  me,  "  now  Mrs.  Howard  is  gone,  she  beleived  she 
should  have  little  of  my  Company ;  butt  if  I  were  not 
weary  of  her,  and  would  be  soe  charitable,  she  should 
take  it  kindly  that  I  came  often  to  her."  This  was  a 
Compliment  you  know  I  needed  not,  for  by  this  tyme  I 
was  so  well  assured  of  her  Inclinacion  to  Goodness,  that 
she  could  not  imagine  me  capable  of  neglecting  a  per- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  19 


son  from  whose  conversation  I  never  return'd  butt  with 
advantage.  I  soone  perceived  what  touched  me  lo  the 
heart,  and  that  was  her  soule  ;  and  how  her  IncUna- 
cions  pointed  to  God  ;  that  her  discourses,  designes, 
and  actions  tended  allwayes  thither:  and  other  obser- 
vations which  I  made  to  my  exterordnary  wonder  and 
admiracion.  This  Creature  (would  I  say  to  my  selfe) 
loves  God  ;  'tis  a  thousand  pittyes  butt  she  should  per- 
sist;  what  a  new  thing  is  this,  I  think  Paulina  and 
Eustochius  are  come  from  Bethlehem  to  Whitehall ; 
and  from  this  moment  I  began  to  looke  vpon  her  as  sa- 
cred, and  to  bless  God  for  the  graces  which  shoone  in 
her.  I  dayly  prayed  for  her  as  she  had  enjoined  me, 
and  she  began  to  open  some  of  her  holy  thoughts  to 
me  ;  and  I  saw  a  flagrant  devotion,  and  that  she  had 
totally  resigned  herselfe  to  God  ;  and  with  these  Incen- 
tiues,  who,  that  had  any  sence  of  Religion,  could  for- 
beare  to  vallue  her  exceedingly  ? 

Itt  was  not  long  after  this,  that  being  one  day  to 
visitt  her,  she  seenVd  to  me  more  thoughtfull  than  ordi- 
nary. I  asked  her,  what  made  her  looke  soe  solemnly. 
She  told  me,  she  had  never  a  freind  in  the  world.  Noe, 
said  I,  that's  impossible  ;  I  beleive  no  body  has  more  ; 
for  all  that  know  you  must  love  you,  and  those  that 
love  you  are  continually  your  freinds.  Butt  I,  who 
well  knew  where  her  heart  att  that  tvme  was,  asked 
her  what  she  esteemed  a  certaine  Gentleman  beyond 
the  Seas.  Alas,  says  she,  he  is  very  ill,  and  that  makes 
me  very  much  concerned  ;  butt  I  doe  not  speake  to  you 
of  him,  whome  God  will  I  hope  be  gratious  to,  but  I 
would  have  a  Freind.     In  that  name  is  a  great  deale 


^0  THE    LIFE    or 


more  then  T  can  express,  a  faith  full  freind,  wliome  I 
might  trust  with  all  that  I  have,  and  God  knows,  that 
is  butt  little  ;  for  him  whome  you  meane  does  not  care 
to  meddle  with  my  concerns,  nor  would  I  give  him  the 
trouble.  This,  to  my  remembrance,  were  her  very  ex- 
pressions to  me.  Madam,  said  I,  doe  you  speake  this 
to  me,  as  if  I  were  capable  of  serving  you  in  any  thing 
considerable  ?  I  beleive  you  the  person  in  the  world 
(replyed  she)  who  would  make  such  a  freind  as  I  wish 
for,  if  I  hadd  meritt  enough  to  deserve  it.  Madam,  said 
I,  consider  well  what  you  say,  and  what  you  doe,  for  it 
is  such  a  trust,  and  soe  great  an  obligation  that  you  lay 
upon  me,  as  I  ought  to  embrace  with  all  imaginable 
respect,  and  acknowledgment  for  the  greatest  honour 
you  could  doe  me  ;  Madam,  to  be  called  your  freind 
were  the  most  desirable  in  the  word,  and  I  am  sure  I 
should  endeavour  to  acquitt  me  of  the  duty  with  great 
chearfullness  and  fidelity.  Pray  leave  your  compli- 
menting, (said  she  smileing)  and  be  my  freind  then, 
and  looke  upon  me  henceforth  as  your  Child.  To  this 
purpose  was  her  obligeing  reply ;  and  there  standing 
pen  and  ink  vpon  the  table,  in  which  I  had  been  draw- 
ing something  upon  a  paper  like  an  Alter,  she  writt 
these  words  :  Be  this  the  Symboll  of  Inviolable  Preind- 
ship, — Mary  Blagge,  16th  October,  1672,  and  vnder- 

neath,  For  my  brother  E ;  and  soe  delivered  it  to 

me  with  a  smile.  AVell,  said  I,  Madam,  this  is  an  high 
obligation,  and  you  have  allready  paid  me  for  the  great- 
est service  that  I  can  ever  pretend  to  doe  you ;  butt  yett 
doe  you  know  what  you  have  done?  Yes,  sayes  she, 
very  well ;  butt  pray  what  doe  ^^ou  meane  ?  Why, 
said  I,  the  title  that  has  consecrated  this  Alter  is  the 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  21 


Marriage  of  Souls,  and  the  Golden  thread  that  tyes  the 
hearts  of  all  the  world  ;  I  tell  you.  Madam,  Freindshipp 
is  heyond  all  relations  of  flesh  and  blood,  because  it  is 
less  materiall ;  there  is  nature  in  that  of  parents  and 
kindred,  butt  [that  of]  Freindshipp  is  of  course  and 
without  election,  for  which  the  Conjugall  State  it  selfe 
is  not  alwayes  tlie  most  happy  :  and,  therefore,  those 
who  have  had  best  experience  chuse  their  freind  out  of 
all  these  circumstances,  and  have  found  him  more  last- 
ing, and  more  effectuall.  By  this  Symboll  you  give  me 
title  to  all  that  you  can  with  Honour  and  Religion  part 
with  in  this  world  ;  and  it  is  a  topic  I  could  adorne  with 
glorious  examples  of  what  I  speak ;  and  the  noblest 
things  have  been  said  vpon  it ;  and  the  Laws  and 
Measures  of  Freindshipp  are  the  nicest  and  the  most 
obhgeing  ; — but  you  know  them  all.  Well,  replyed 
she,  smileing,  be  it  soe, — pray  what  am  I  to  doe  ? 
Nay,  said  I,  I'll  tell  you  first  what  you  are  to  suffer. 

The  priviledges  I  claime  (in  virtue  of  that  charac- 
ter) are  that  I  may  visitt  you  without  being  thought 
importunate  ;  that  I  may  now  and  then  write  to  you  to 
cultivate  my  Stile  ;  discourse  with  you  to  improve  my 
Vnderstanding ;  read  to  you  to  receive  your  Reflec- 
tions ;  and  that  you  freely  command  me  vpon  all  occa- 
sions without  any  reserve  whatsoever  :  you  are  to  write 
to  me  when  1  am  absent ;  mention  me  in  all  your  pray- 
ers to  God,  to  admonish  me  of  all  my  failings,  to  visitt 
me  in  sickness,  to  take  care  of  me  when  I  am  in  dis- 
tress, and  never  to  forsake  me,  change  or  lessen  your 
particular  esteeme,  till  I  prove  vnconstant  or  perfidious, 
and  no  mans  freind  :  in  a  word,  there  is  in  Freindshipp 


22  THE    LIFE    OF 


something  of  all  relations,  and  something  above  them 
all.  These,  Madam,  are  the  Laws,  and  they  are  recip- 
rocal! and  eternal  1,  (fee. 

Thus,  for  a  tyme,  'twixt  jest  and  earnest,  the  con- 
versation putt  her  into  the  most  agreeable  humor  in  the 
world.  Well,  said  she,  I  will  consider  of  what  you 
say  ;  butt  pray  remember  you  be  my  freind,  and  when 
next  you  come,  I  will  tell  you  what  I  have  for  you  to 
doe  in  good  earnest ;  and  a  little  after  writt  me  this 
Letter. 

"  My  Freind^ 
"  I  have  considered  and  minded  well  what  was 
said,  and  what  I  writt,  and  will  not  recall  it.  I  vnder- 
stood  something  of  the  office  of  freindshipp  before  I  knew 
you,  butt  after  what  you  have  said  and  offered,  I  beleive 
I  shall  need  little  Instruction.  Gratitude,  join'd  with 
the  greatest  esteeme  I  had  before  of  you,  will  require  all 
that  you  mention  on  my  part :  you  are  then,  my  first 
freind,  the  first  that  ever  I  had,  and  ever  shall  you  be 
soe.  This  is  trueth  vpon  the  word  of  a  Christian  ;  and 
I  beleive  I  shall  not  lay  downe  my  resolution  of  con- 
tinueing  yours  butt  with  my  life.  I  thankfully  accept 
all  your  Councell,  and  will  endeavour  to  follow  it ;  butt 
birds  themselves  have  allwayes  the  good  nature  to  teach 
their  young  ones,  and  soe  must  you  ;  looke  vpon  me 
then  as  your  child  as  well  as  freind,  and  love  me  as 
your  child,  and,  if  you  will,  call  me  soe.  What  Mea- 
sures you  are  to  observe  I  meddle  not  with  ;  for  a 
freind  may  doe  what  he  pleases ;  they  who  give  mo- 
ny,  give  all ;  'tis  a  saying  of  your  owne  as  to  Charity, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  23 


they  that  are  freinds  are  all  things, — lett  that  be  myne. 
Butt  as  for  the  returnes  for  the  good  offices  I  receive, 
I  beleive  my  advice  can  be  of  httle  vso  to  you,  vnless 
to  serve  you  as  an  Act  of  humihty,  which  must  be  all 
the  reason  you  will  ever  have  to  require  it  i  what  shall 
I  say  then  more?  till  death  reckon  me  your  freind  ;  you 
see  how  I  think  I  am  with  you  ;  and  now,  after  all  this, 
I  may  grow  old  or  forgettfull,  and  Melancholy  or  Stu- 
pid, and  in  that  Case,  will  no  more  answer  for  my  selfe 
then  for  a  Stranger  ;  butt,  w^hilst  I  am  my  selfe  and  a 
Christian,  I  will  be  yours." 

Itt  w^ould  be  an  vnpardonable  ostentation  in  me, 
and  a  great  temptation  to  over  valine  my  selfe,  and  the 
poore  services  she  was  pleased  to  accept  of,  should  I 
here  repeate  what  she  has  left  me  vnder  her  own  hand 
vpon  this  subject,  in  the  most  pious  and  endearing  ex- 
pressions that  could  possibly  fall  from  the  most  sincere 
and  obligeing  Creature  in  the  world  :  butt  to  lett  them 
pass, — 'tis  certaine,  that  from  this  moment,  I  no  more 
look'd  vpon  her  as  Mrs.  Blagge,  butt  as  my  child  in- 
deed, and  did,  to  the  vttmost  of  my  poore  abilitye, 
advice  and  serve  her  in  all  her  secular  and  no  few 
spirituall  aftaires  and  concerns,  with  a  diligence  and 
fidelity  becomeing  the  trust  and  confidence  she  reposed 
in  me,  as  an  honour  to  be  envyed  by  the  best  of  men  : 
her  friendshipp  af;er  this  was  soe  transcendently  sin- 
cere, noble,  and  Religious,  as  taught  me  all  its  demean- 
sions,  beyond  any  thing  I  ever  read  of  its  highest  Ideas  ; 
and  she  herselfe  was  heard  to  say,  what  she  once 
thought  to  be  a  name  onely  and  nothing  else,  she  found 
a  reall  existance ;  and  that  freindshipp  was  for  mutual  I 


24  THE    LIFE    OF 


Improvement,  and  to  fortifye  every  virtue  ;  and,  indeed, 
she  was  able  to  direct,  and  Councell,  and  encourage, 
and  Comfort.  Nay,  and  has  often  told  me  with  be- 
comeing  passion,  Tliat  she  with  Joy  could  dye  for  a 
friend  ;  vrgeing  that  sentence  of  St.  Pauls,  nor  are  the 
measures  hard  ;  I  am  sure  willingly  would  I  have  done 
it  for  her  :  O  sweete,  O  how  desireable  !  And,  indeed, 
these  holy  transports  made  the  Christians  communicate 
all  they  had  ;  the  apostles  speake  of  some  who  would 
have  pluck'd  out.  their  very  eyes  and  laid  downe  their 
necks  for  him,  and  called  nothing  their  owne  which 
others  wanted.  'Tis  this  which  made  those  saints  of 
one  mind  and  of  one  heart ;  'tis  this  has  Crown'd  a 
hundred  thousand  martyrs,  and  shewed  vs  that  the 
most  consumate  friendshipps  are  the  products  of  Re- 
ligion and  the  love  of  God.  There  are  Inumerable 
expressions  of  this  nature  to  be  found  in  her  letters  to 
me,  which  are  Charming,  and  indeed,  soe  tender  and 
personall,  that,  tho'  one  (who)  knew  my  demeritts  as 
well  as  I  my  selfe  doe,  would  suspect  their  sincerity ; 
yett  I  knew  to  be  from  her  heart,  which  was  full  of 
most  generous  resentments.  In  a  word,  I  may  say,  as 
David  did  of  Jonathan,  her  friendshipp  to  me  was 
passing  the  love  of  women  ;  nor  verily,  was  it  without 
an  intire  sympathye  on  my  part ;  and  there  was  provi- 
dence in  itt,  as  well  as  inclination  for  the  exceeding 
and  most  eminent  piety  and  goodness  that  ever  conse- 
crated a  worthy  friendshipp,  shone  soe  bright  in  this 
blessed  saint,  as  intitled  her  to  all  the  services,  respect, 
and  veneration  I  was  capable  of  giveing  her. 

Never  am  I  to  forgett  this  Golden  expression  of  hers 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  25 


to  me.  I  would  have  (sayes  she)  nothing  that  passes 
betweene  vs  have  any  Resemblance  of  friendshipp  that 
doe  not  last.  Butt,  Madam,  whither  has  this  Indearing 
topic  transported  me. 

After  this  solemn  engagement  then,  she  soone  ac- 
quainted me  with  many  of  her  concerns ;  made  me 
the  depositarie  of  her  pious  thoughts  and  resolutions, 
and  putt  her  whole  fortune  intirely  into  my  hands  ; 
which,  indeed,  lay  in  some  danger  for  want  of  that 
assistance,  which  she  might  have  had  from  an  able 
person,  tho'  from  none  more  faithfull  and  more  Indus- 
trious to  Improve  it  to  the  best  of  my  capacity  ;  I  was 
only  griev'd,  when  att  any  tyme  she  thought  it  a  trouble 
to  me ;  butt  she  would  say :  I  am  your  Child,  and 
whither  should  I  goe  butt  to  you  ;  never  will  I  doe  any 
thing  without  you  whilst  I  live  :  more  difference  and 
humility  could  she  not  have  paid  to  a  father ;  more 
confidence  in  a  friend ;  and  this  temper'd  with  that 
sweetness  and  exterordnary  piety,  that  I  am  not  able 
to  support  the  consideration  of  the  loss  of  such  a  friend- 
shipp without  vnspeakable  griefe. 

Seldome  or  rarely  came  I  to  waite  on  her,  (if  she 
were  not  in  company)  but  I  found  her  in  her  little 
oratorio,  and  some  tymes  all  in  feares,  for  never  was 
Creature  more  devout  and  tender ;  and  a  thousand 
Cases  and  questions  would  she  propound  to  me,  for 
which  I  would  still  referr  her  to  that  Reverend  and 
learn'd  divine,  with  whome  she  did  constantly  corres- 
pond vpon  all  occasions  of  spirituall  advice  ;  soe  care- 
full  and  curious  was  this  saint  in  the  concernments  of 

8 


26  THE    LIFE    OF 


her  soule  ;  butt  she  would  often  tell  me,  he  was  too 
gentle,   and,  therefore,  required  of  me  to  deale  Impar- 
tially; [that]  1  was  her  friend,  and  that  a  friend  was 
Ghostly  father,  and  every  thing  to  her ;  indeed  I  would 
often  reprove  her  tiresome  methods  and  thought  to  plant 
the  consideracion  of  the  memory  and  love  of  God  in 
her  thoughts  ;  and  to  cure  her  of  the  sad  and  frieght- 
full  apprehensions  she  sometymes  seemed  to  have,  that 
God  was  a  severe  exacter ;  that  she  had  never  done 
enough,  and  served  an  austere  Master,  not  to  be  pleased 
without  abundance  of  labour  and  formes  without  end ; 
and  for  this  she  would  frequently  give  me  thanks,  that 
I  had  lett  her  see  and  tast  more  of  the  love  of  God  and 
delices  of  Religion,  than  ever  she  had  before.     And 
veryly  this  holy  and  Religious   temper  of  hers,   was 
enough  to  winn  the  esteeme  of  all  that  had  any  sence 
of  goodness.     Nor  was  her  tyme  wholly  spent  in  the 
contemplative  part  of  piety ;    she  was  always  doeing 
some  good  offices  for  one  or  other,  gave  frequent  and 
considerable  reliefe  to  poore  and  indigent  people,  and 
not  seldome  made  me  her  almoner,  and  the  hand  to 
convey  it  where  she  could  not  well  her  selfe  ;  but  of 
this  and  the  many  visitts  she  in  her  owne  person  made 
(delicate  as  she  was)  to  refresh  and  comfort  the  sick 
and  miserable,   even   amongst  the   most  wretchedly 
poore,  nott  without  great  inconveniency  to  her  health, 
I  shall  give  account  hereafter :  butt  hitherto  was  she 
advanc'd,   being   yett   hardly   enter'd  her   Nineteenth 
yeare,  an  age  that  few  in  her  circumstances  soe  soone 
sett  out  att,  and  [would]  that  I  begun  as  early  and  as 
early  finish'd. 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  27 


Wee  will  now  then  looke  vpon  her  as  att  White- 
hall, whither  she  came  from  St.  James  to  waite  vpon 
her  Majestye,  after  the  death  of  the  Dutchess,  when 
she  was  not  above  sixteene.  I  had  not  then  indeed 
the  honour  to  know  her  ;  hutt  I  have  heard  from  others, 
that  her  beauty  and  her  witt  was  so  exterordnary  im- 
proved, as  there  had  nothing  been  scene  more  surprize- 
ing,  and  full  of  charmes  ;  every  body  was  in  love  with, 
and  some  allmost  dyeing  foi'  her,  whilst  with  all  the 
Modesty  and  Circumspection  imaginable,  she  strove  to 
Eclipse  the  luster  which  she  gave ;  and  would  often 
check  the  vivacity  which  was  naturall,  and  perfectly 
became  her,  for  feare  of  giveing  occasion  to  those  who 
lay  in  waite  to  deceive.  Butt  it  was  not  possible  here 
to  make  the  least  approach,  butt  such  as  was  full  of 
Honour ;  and  the  distance  she  observ'd,  and  Caution 
and  Judgment  she  was  mistress  of,  protected  her  from 
all  impertinent  addresses,  till  she  had  made  a  Choice, 
without  Reproach,  and  worthy  her  Esteeme,  namely, 
of  that  excellent  Person,  who  was  afterwards  her  Hus- 
band, after  a  passion  of  no  less  than  Nine  long  yeares, 
that  they  both  had  been  the  most  intire  and  faithfull 
lovers  in  the  world.  This  was  a  space  indeed  of  suf- 
ficient probation,  nor  will  I  presume  to  dive  into  the 
circumstances  which  made  them  be  soe  long  resolveing, 
she  being  then  it  seems  butt  very  young,  and  both  of  a 
temper  soe  extreamly  discreete.  Butt  as  to  the  first 
Impressions,  I  will  relate  to  your  Ladyshipp  what  1 
have  learn'd  from  her  selfe,  when  sometymes  she  was 
pleased  to  trust  me  with  diverse  passages  of  her  Life. 
For  it  was  not  possible  I  could  hear  of  soe  long  an 
Amour,  soe  honorable  a  love  and  constant  passion,  and 


28  THE    LIFE     OF 

which  I  easily  perceived  concerned  her,  as  lookeing 
vpon  herselfe  vnsettled,  and  one  who  had  long  since 
resolved  nott  to  make  the  Court  her  rest,  butt  I  must  be 
touched  with  some  Care  for  her.  I  would  now  and 
then  kindly  chide  her,  why  she  suffer'd  those  languish- 
ments,  when  I  knew  not  on  whome  to  lay  the  blame* 
For  tho'  she  would  industriously  conceale  her  disquiett, 
and  divert  it  vnder  the  notion  of  the  Spleene,  she  could 
not  but  acknowledge  to  i?ie  where  the  dart  was  fix'd  ; 
nor  was  any  thing  more  ingenious  then  what  she  now 
writt  me  vpon  this  Subject,  by  which  your  Ladyshipp 
will  perceive,  as  with  what  peculiar  confidence  she  was 
pleased  to  honour  me,  soe,  with  what  early  prudence 
and  great  pietye  she  manag'd  the  passion,  which,  of 
all  other,  young  people  are  comonly  the  most  precipi- 
tate in  and  unadvis'd. 

"  I  came,"  sayes  she,  "  soe  young,  as  I  tell  you,  into 
the  world  (that  is,  about  14  yeares  of  Age,)  where  no 
sooner  was  I  entred,  butt  various  opinions  were  deliv- 
ered of  me  and  the  person  whome  (you  know,)  was  more 
favourable  then  the  rest  were  to  me,  and  did,  after 
some  tyme,  declare  it  to  me.  The  first  thing  which 
tempts  young  weomen  is  vanity,  and  I  made  that  my 
great  designe.  Butt  Love  soone  taught  me  another 
Lesson,  and  I  found  the  trouble  of  being  tyed  to  the 
hearing  of  any  save  him ;  which  made  made  me 
resolve  that  either  he  or  none  should  have  the  posses- 
sion of  your  Friend.  Being  thus  soone  sencible  of 
Love  my  selfe,  I  was  easily  perswaded  to  keepe  my 
selfe  from  giving  him  any  cause  of  Jealousye,  and  in 
soe  long  a  tyme  never  has  there  been  the  least. 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  29 


^  This,  vnder  God's  providence,  has  been  the 
means  of  preserveing  me  from  many  of  those  misfor- 
tunes young  Creatures  meet  with  in  the  world,  and  in 
a  Coiut  espetially.  Att  first  wee  thought  of  nothing 
but  Hveing  alwayes  togeather,  and  that  wee  should  be 
happy.  Butt  att  last  he  was  sent  abroad  by  his  Ma- 
jestye,  and  fell  sick,  which  gave  me  great  trouble ;  and 
1  allow'd  more  tyme  for  Prayer  and  the  performance  of 
holy  dutyes  than  before  I  had  ever  done,  and  I  thank 
God,  found  infinite  pleasure  in  it,  farr  beyond  any 
other,  and  I  thought  less  of  foolish  things  that  vsed  to 
take  vp  my  tyme.  Being  thus  changed  my  selfe,  and 
likeing  it  soe  well,  I  earnestly  begg'd  of  God  that  he 
would  impart  the  same  satisfaction  to  him  I  loved  ; 
'tis  done,  (my  friend)  'tis  done,  and  from  my  soule  I  am 
thankfuU  ;  and  tho'  I  beleive  he  loves  me  passionatehr, 
yett  I  am  not  where  I  was  :  my  place  is  fiU'd  vpp  with 
HIM  who  is  all  in  all.  I  find  in  him  none  of  that  tor- 
menting passion  to  which  I  need  sacrefice  my  selfe  ; 
butt  still  were  wee  dissengag'd  from  the  world,  wee 
should  marry  vnder  such  restraints  as  were  fitt,  and  by 
the  agreeableness  of  our  humour,  make  each  other 
happy.  Butt  att  present  there  are  obstructions :  he 
must  be  perpetually  engaged  in  buissness,  and  follow 
the  Court,  and  live  allwayes  in  the  world,  and  soe 
have  less  tyme  for  the  service  of  God,  which  is  a  sens- 
cible  affliction  to  him ;  wherefore,  wee  are  not  deter- 
mined to  precipitate  that  matter,  butt  to  expect  a  while, 
and  see  how  things  will  goe ;  haveing  a  great  mind  to 
be  togeather,  which  cannot  with  decency  be  done  with- 
out marrying,  nor,  to  either  of  our  satisfactions,  without 
being  free  from  the  world.     In  short,  serving  of  God  is 


30  THE    LIFE    OF 


our  end,  and  if  wee  cannott  do  that  quietly  togeather 
wee  will  asunder.  You  know  our  Saviour  sayes,  that 
all  could  not  receive  that  doctrine,  but  to  those  who 
could,  he  gave  noe  contradiction  ;  and  if  wee  can  butt 
pass  our  younger  yeares,  'tis  not  likely  wee  should  be 
concern'd  for  marrying  when  old.  If  wee  could  marry 
now,  I  don't  see  butt  those  inconveniencys  may  happen 
by  sickness,  or  absence,  or  death.  In  a  word,  if  we 
marry,  it  will  be  to  serve  God  and  to  encourage  one 
another  dayly  ;  if  wee  doe  not,  'tis  for  that  end  too ; 
and  wee  know  God  will  direct  those  who  sincerely 
desire  his  love  above  all  other  Considerations ;  now 
should  wee  both  resolve  to  continue  as  we  are,  be 
assur'd,  I  should  be  as  little  Idle  as  if  I  were  a  wife.  I 
should  attend  to  prayer  and  all  other  Christian  dutyes, 
and  make  these  my  pleasures,  seeing  I  chuse  not  the 
condition  out  of  restraint  and  singularity,  but  to  serve 
God  the  better." 

This  being  in  answer  to  something  I  had  written 
to  her  vpon  a  serious  debate,  -in  which  I  had  opposed 
a  melancholy  Resolution,  she  would  now  and  then 
entertaine  me  with,  of  absolutely  renouncing  the 
thoughts  of  Marriage  and  wholly  retireing  in  the  world, 
I  give  5^ou  [it]  in  her  owne  Style  and  holy  thoughts,  as 
an  Instance  of  that  early  piety  and  prudentiall- weigh- 
ing of  things  and  circimistances,  which  accompanied 
all  her  actions  ;  nor  could  I  have  presented  your  Lady- 
shipp  with  a  more  Illustrious  part  of  her  history  nor 
more  instructive. 

In  good  earnest,  this  purpose  of  wholly  vacateing  to 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  31 


Religion,  was  att  this  tyme  soe  imprinted  in  her,  that 
whether  she  marryed  or  remain'd  single,  resolv'd  she 
was  to  depart  the  Court.  She  had  frequently  told  me, 
that  Seaven  yeares  was  enough  and  too  much,  to  trifle 
any  longer  there  :  and,  accordingly,  one  day  that  I 
least  dream't  of  it,  she  came  expressly  to  my  lodgeing 
and  accquainted  me  with  her  Intention  to  goe  [and] 
live  att  Berkley  House,  and  that  if  she  did  alter  her 
condition  by  Marriage,  it  should  be  when  she  was 
perfectly  free,  and  had  essayed  how  her  detachment 
from  Royall  servitude  would  comport  with  her  before 
she  determin'd  concerning  another  change.  I  happen'd 
to  be  with  her  in  the  Q,ueens  withdrawing  roome, 
when  a  day  or  two  after,  finding  her  oppertunity,  and 
that  there  vv^as  less  company,  she  begg'd  leave  of  their 
Majestyes  to  retire ;  never  shall  I  forgett  the  humble 
and  becomeing  address  she  made,  nor  the  Joy  that 
discover'd  its  selfe  in  this  Angells  countenance,  above 
any  thing  I  had  ever  observed  of  transport  in  her, 
when  she  had  obtained  her  suite  ;  for,  I  must  tell  you, 
Madam,  she  had  made  some  attempts  before  without 
success,  which  gave  her  much  anxietie.  Their  Majes- 
tyes were  both  vnwilling  to  part  with  such  a  Jewell  ; 
and  I  confess,  from  that  tyme,  I  look'd  vpon  White 
Hall  with  pitty,  not  to  say  Contempt.  What  will 
become  said  I,  of  Corinthus,  the  Citty  of  Luxury, 
when  the  graces  have  abandon'd  it,  whose  piety  and 
example  is  soe  highlj'-  necessary?  Astrasa  soe  left  the 
Lower  world.  And  for  my  part,  I  never  sett  my  foote 
in  it  afterwards,  butt  as  ent'ring  into  a  solitude,  and 
was  ready  to  cry  out  with  the  wife  of  Phineas,  that  its 
glory   was   departed.     She  tooke,   I  assure  you,   her 


32  THE    LIFE     OF 


leave  of  their  Majestyes  with  soe  much  modesty  and 
good  a  Grace,  that  tho'  they  look't  as  if  they  would 
have  a  Httle  reproach't  her  for  makeiiig  so  nmch  hast, 
they  could  not  find  in  their  hearts  to  say  an  vnkind 
word  to  her  ;  hutt  there  was  for  all  that  I  am  cej  taine 
something  att  the  heart  like  griefe  ;  and  I  leave  you, 
Madam,  to  imagine  how  the  rest  of  the  Court  mourn'd 
this  Recess,  and  how  dim  the  tapers  burnt  as  she  pass'd 
the  anti-chamber.  '  Is  Mrs.  Blagge  goeing,'  says  a 
faire  creature  ;  '  why  stay  I  here  any  longer  V  others, 
'that  the  Court  had  never  such  a  Starr  in  all  its  hemi- 
spheere  ;  and  veryly,  I  had  not  observed  soe  vniversall 
a  damp  vpon  the  spiritts  of  every  one  that  knew  her. 
Itt  was,  I  remember,  on  a  Sunday  night,  after  most  of 
the  company  were  departed,  that  I  waited  on  her 
downe  to  her  Chamber,  where  she  was  noe  sooner  en- 
ter'd,  butt  falUng  on  her  knees,  she  blessed  God  as  for 
a  Signall  deliverance  ;  she  was  come  out  of  Egypt,  and 
now  in  the  way  to  the  Land  of  Promise.  You  will 
easyly  figure  to  your  selfe  how  buissy  the  young  Saint 
was  the  next  morning  in  makeing  vpp  her  little  car- 
riage to  quitt  her  prison :  and  when  you  have  fancied 
the  Conflagration  of  a  certaine  Citty  the  Scripture 
speaks  of,  imagine  this  Lady  trussing  vpp  her  little 
fardle,  like  the  two  daughters  whom  the  angell  hastned 
and  conducted  ;  but  the  simiHtude  goes  no  further,  for 
this  holy  Virgin  went  to  Zoar,  they  to  the  cave  of  Folly 
and  Intemperance  ;  there  was  no  danger  of  her  looke- 
ing  back  and  becomeing  a  Statue  for  sorrow  of  what 
she  left  behind.  All  her  household  stu tie  besides  a 
Bible  and  a  bundle  of  Prayer  bookes,  was  packed  vpp 
in  a  very  little  Compass,  for  she  lived  soe  farr  from  su- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  33 


perfluitye,  that  she  carryed  all  that  was  vallueable  in 
her  person ;  and  tho'  she  had  a  Courtly  wardrobe,  she 
affected  it  not,  because  every  thing  became  her  that  she 
putt  on,  and  she  became  every  thing  was  putt  vpon  her. 

She  tooke  her  leave  of  the  mother  of  the  Maids  as 
became  her  ;  butt  she  could  not  weepe  till  your  Lady- 
shipps  sister,  whome  she  was  still  to  leave  in  Captivitye 
fell  on  her  neck,  and  then  there  fell  mutuall  tears,  that 
trickled  down  her  Cheeks  like  the  dew  of  Flowers,  and 
made  a  lovely  griefe  ;  to  her  and  to  your  Ladyshipp 
she  left  her  pretty  Oratorye,  soe  often  consecrated  with 
her  prayers  and  dev^otions,  as  to  the  only  successors 
of  her  Virtues  and  Piety  ;  and  as  I  am  perswaded 
that  the  Court  was  every  day  less  sensible  of  its  losse 
whilst  you  both  continued  in  it,  because  you  trode  in 
this  Religious  Ladys  Stepps,  soe  the  piety  it  any  where 
still  retaines  is  accoimtable  to  your  rare  examples;  of 
such  Importance  is  one  Religious  Person  to  a  whole 
Society,  and  sometymes  to  a  Nation. 

Butt  to  returne  to  her  remove  from  Court.  1  am  the 
more  particular  as  haveing  had  the  honour  to  waite  on 
her  to  Berkley  House  ;  I  tell  your  Ladyshipp,  I  never 
beheld  her  more  orient  than  she  appeared  att  this  tyme, 
and  the  moment  she  sett  foote  in  the  Coach  her  eyes 
sparkled  with  Joy,  and  a  marvelous  lustre  ;  the  Roses 
of  her  Cheeks  were  soe  fresh,  and  her  countenance  soe 
gay,  as  if  with  the  rest  of  her  perfections  (had  she  not 
left  your  two  Sisters  there)  she  had  carded  all  the 
Beautyes  as  well  as  all  the  Virtue  of  the  Court  away 
with  her  too.  Butt  ah,  had  you  seen  with  what  effu- 
se 


34  THE    LIFE    OF 


sion  and  open  armes  she  entred  Berkley  House,  and 
sprung  into  the  Caresses  of  my  Lady,  in  what  a  trice 
after  she  was  ledd  vp  into  her  apartmentt  she  had  putt 
all  her  Equipage  in  order,  rang'd  her  Library,  and  dis- 
posed of  her  Compendious  Inventory,  you  would  have 
said  there  was  nothing  prettyer  then  that  buissy  mo- 
ment. And  now  when  she  had  consecrated  her  new 
Oratorye  with  a  devout  Aspiration  and  the  Incense  of 
an  humble  Soule,  for  the  blessings  of  this  sweete  Retire- 
ment, she  satt  down  and  admired  her  sweete  felicitye. 
For,  as  I  told  your  Ladyshipp,  "twas  not  altogeather 
that  she  might  be  disengaged  from  Court  that  she  de- 
signed to  quitt  itt ;  butt  that  she  might  vacate  more  to 
stricter  duty.  She  believed  that  att  Berkley  House  she 
should  be  more  att  her  owne  disposall ;  that  she  should 
have  noe  body  to  observe  butt  God  ;  be  mistress  of  her 
houres,  and  governe  her  affaires  suitable  to  her  devout 
Inclinations :  and  when  she  seriously  requir'd  my 
opinion  of  it,  I  could  not  disapprove  it.  Itt  brought  to 
mind  how  in  the  declension  of  the  Empire,  and  when 
the  sinns  and  vices  of  a  licentious  and  abandon'd  age 
had  allarm'd  the  Roman  world  with  a  barbarous  and 
vniversall  warr,  like  what  was  now  vpon  the  scene  of 
Europe,  that  Paula  and  her  daughter  Eustochium,  (two 
rich  and  beautifull  Ladys)  quitted  the  splendor  of  a 
pompous  Court  for  the  Recesses  of  Bethlehem  and  the 
Solitudes  of  Judea,  and  to  prostrate  themselves  att  the 
manger  of  a  divine  babe,  and  then  att  the  foote  of  Cal- 
varye,  where  this  holy  Mother  and  beautious  Daughter 
spent  the  rest  of  their  days  in  the  recollection  of  their 
lives  and  the  service  of  Jesus :  me-thought  nothing 
more  ever  resembled  this  Act  of  those  Devotas  than  the 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  35 


heroick  resolution  of  our  Saint ;  in  this  yett  superior  to 
theirs,  as  hers  was  spontaneous,  theirs  by  the  importu- 
nityes  of  St.  Hierorne ;  abandoning  the  Royall  Circle, 
where  she  made  vp  the  constellacions,  for  a  Circle  of 
reall  Starrs,  and  to  stand  before  the  throne  of  the  Lamb  ; 
she  deserts  the  glittering  Balls,  and  goes  no  more  to  the 
Theater,  that  she  may  sing  in  the  quire  of  Seraphins, 
and  contemplate  the  celestiall  vision  ;  she  cares  not  for 
the  Sumptuous  Entertainments,  the  Musick,  Masking, 
and  perfumes,  to  mortify  her  sences,  and  enjoy  intel- 
lectual pleasures  ;  she  neglects  the  gay  and  studious 
Dress,  the  Raillery  and  reputation  of  a  Witt,  which 
made  her  the  life  of  Conversation  and  the  pretty  miracle 
of  Court,  that  she  may  adorne  her  bright  Soule,  and 
converse  with  Angells  ;  she  chuses  rather  to  suffer 
diminution,  and  the  censure  of  men  as  precise  and  sin- 
gular ;  to  be  a  reall  Maid  of  Honour,  then  to  have  the 
name,  and  live  in  the  scene  of  Temptation  and  the 
pleasures  of  Sinn  for  a  season  :  in  a  word,  I  fancied 
her  call'd,  as  was  Abraham  out  of  Vr  of  the  Chaldees 
and  from  the  Idolls  of  Haran. 

Butt  as  nothing  on  this  side  heaven  is  permanent 
long,  she  had  not  been  in  this  Imaginarye  and  indeed 
sweete  retirement,  and  where  tho'  one  of  the  most  mag- 
nificent pallaces  of  the  Towne,  she  had  her  apartment 
remote  from  the  buissy  part  of  the  house,  and  was  rarely 
fitted  for  her  purposes  of  devotion ;  I  say,  it  was  not 
long,  when  partly  from  the  necessity  of  Complyance 
with  the  Lady  of  the  family,  the  continuall  and  impor- 
tune visitts  of  the  great  persons  which  vs'd  to  frequent 
that  place,  obligeing  her  to  tedious  Cerimony  and  con- 


36  THE    LIFE    or 


versation  that  often  interrupted  her  Course,  and  partly 
(from)  other  circumstances,  which  for  the  present 
seemed  less  favourable  to  their  Intentions  of  marriage 
soe  soone,  and  the  disquiett  it  putt  her  to.  she  not  only- 
deliberated  in  good  earnest,  butt  resum'd  her  former  In- 
clination with  more  resolution  than  ever,  of  removeing 
farther  from  these  Impediments  and  all  togeather  aban- 
doning the  world.  I  have  really  been  touch'd  in  the 
deepest  sence  to  see  the  Conflicts  this  devout  Creature 
vnderwent,  betweene  her  love  and  her  devotion  ;  or 
shall  I  call  them  both  her  love  ;  for  soe  they  were  :  a 
thousand  times  has  she  told  me  she  would  abide  as  she 
was,  and  then  her  pilty  for  him  who  could  not  live  in 
her  absence,  divided  her  afresh,  and  peirc'd  her  to  the 
soule  ;  and  when  she  was  in  the  deepest  of  this  Con- 
cerne  for  him,  nothing  I  have  ever  read  in  the  Epistles 
of  Seneca,  had  that  excellent  Stoick  been  indeed  a 
Christian,  appear'd  more  divinely  philosophicall  than 
the  Topics  she  would  vse  to  divert  his  passion,  and 
reason  him  into  an  indiiference  for  her,  when  (of  all 
things  in  the  world.)  it  was  not  indifferent  to  her  that 
he  should  have  lov'd  her  less.  Butt  she  had  really  that 
absolute  Empire  over  her  owne  affections,  and  such  po- 
tent Inclinations  to  make  God  and  Religion  the  buissness 
of  her  life,  that  as  I  said,  she  w^as  many  times  vpon  the 
Brink  of  Resolveing  to  abandon  all  the  world  :  she  be- 
leived  that  1  who  knew  love  to  be  stronger  than  death, 
would  never  approve  of  this  resolution;  and,  therefore, 
she  pretended  att  first,  only  to  make  a  visilt  to  her  sister 
the  Lady  Yarbrough,  in  Yorksheir,  for  a  month  or  two 
dureing  the  summer ;  butt  after  that  she  could  not  con- 
ceale  from  me  a  further  designe  of  goeing  from  thence 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  37 


to  Hereford,  to  live  by  herselfe  vnder  the  direction  of 
the  Reverend  Deane  of  that  Cathedral!,  who  had  long 
been  her  spirituall  father.  This  was  the  Zoare  she 
often  languished  after,  vseing  that  of  Righteous  Lott, 
"  Is  it  not  a  little  one,  and  my  soule  shall  live."  "  Yes, 
my  friend,''  says  she, ''  in  perfect  liberty  without  formes  ; 
frugally,  without  Contempt ;  conveniently,  without 
pomp  ;  att  distance  from  the  Bustle  of  the  world,  where 
I  shall  forgett  and  be  forgotten,  be  arbitress  of  my  tyme, 
and  serve  God  regularly  ;  chuse  my  Conversation,  and 
when  I  alter  my  Condition,  doe  it  with  your  advice  ; 
which  I  am  sure  will  never  be  to  alter  a  purpose  soe 
reasonable,  and  soe  fit  for  one  in  my  Circumstances." 
Thus  would  this  blessed  Creature  discourse  it  with  me, 
whilst  in  the  meane  tyme  she  was  ballanceing  in  her- 
selfe when  it  came  to  a  Resolution.  "  The  Lord  help 
me,  dear  freind,"  sayes  she  to  me,  in  another  Letter,  "  I 
know  not  vrhat  to  determine  ;  sometymes  I  think  one 
thing,  sometymes  another  ;  one  day  I  fancy  noe  life 
soe  pure  as  the  vnmarryed,  another  day  I  think  it  less 
exemplarye,  and  that  the  marryed  life  has  more  opper- 
tunity  of  exerciseing  Charity ;  and  then  againe,  that 
'tis  full  of  solicitude  and  worldly ness,  soe  as  what  I 
shall  doe,  I  know  not.  He  can  live  without  a  wife  wil- 
lingly, but  without  me  he  is  vnwilling  to  live,  soe  as  if 
I  doe  not  marry  he  is  not  in  danger  of  sinn  ;  but  if  I 
or  he  or  both  should  repent,  O  Lord  and  Governor  of 
my  life,  leave  me  not  to  my  selfe,  to  the  Counsellof  my 
whole  heart,  butt  send  me  wisdome  from  thy  throne  to 
direct,  assist,  and  lead  me  soberly  in  my  doeings.  Thou 
hast  imparted  to  us  reason  for  our  guide ;  butt  O  rule 


thou  that  reason,  for  without  thou  Conduct  it  I  shall  be 


38  THE    LIFE    OF 


in  perpetual!  hazard.  Lord,  J  renounce  all  Judgment, 
all  knowledge,  and  discretion  of  my  owne ;  I  desire 
not  to  be  a  Child  of  this  world,  wise  in  their  Genera- 
tion, butt  to  be  a  Foole  that  I  may  indeed  be  wise.  I 
am  in  a  straight  and  know  not  what  to  chuse,  deter- 
mine thou  for  me,  O  blessed  Lord.  Remember  that  for 
near  these  one  and  twenty  yeares  I  have  been  thy  care, 
and  I  bless  the  for  it.  Thou  hast  frequently  and  won- 
derfully preserv'd  me,  both  in  spirituall  and  temporall 
dangers,  and  over  and  above  has  done  Innumerable 
good  things  for  me ;  O  leave  me  not  now  in  this  diffi- 
culty, butt  once  more  be  thou  my  Councellor,  and 
whilst  I  live  will  I  be  thy  faithful!,  thankfull,  servant. 
Say,  Amen  with  me,  dear  freind." 

• 

Behold  Madam,  the  Letter,  or  rather  the  ejaculation 
which  an  heart  intirely  possess'd  with  Religious  Senti- 
ments, made  her  dictate  on  this  occasion  ;  nor  should  I 
have  produc'd  these  particulars  (con-credited  to  me  in 
spetiall  Confidence)  butt  to  lett  you  see,  with  how  holy 
a  designe  and  consideracion  she  proceeded ;  and  how 
Infinitely  different  from  the  method  of  makeing  love 
and  receiveing  addresses  now  a  dayes.  Veryly,  when  I 
reflect  vpon  her  youth,  beauty,  witt,  the  temptations 
and  conflicts  she  sustain'd,  to  comply  with  the  affection 
she  had  for  her  two  Rivall  loves  (for  soe  I  againe  call 
them)  I  am  halfe  astonish'd,  butt  you  shall  hear  how 
passionately  she  describes  it,  and  thus  goes  on. 

"  Much  afliicted  and  in  great  agony  was  your  poor 
friend  this  day,  to  think  of  the  love  of  the  holy  Jesus, 
and  yett  be  soe  little  able  to  make  him  any  returne. 
For  with  what  favour  have  I  protested  against  all  af- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  39 


fection  to  the  things  of  this  world  ;  resign'd  them  all 
without  exception  ;  when  the  first  moment  I  am  tryed, 
I  shiink  away,  and  am  passionately  fond  of  the  Crea- 
ture, and  forgetfull  of  the  Creator.  This,  when  I  con- 
sidered, I  fell  on  my  knees,  and  with  many  teares, 
begg'd  of  God  to  assist  me  with  his  Grace,  and  banish 
from  me  all  Concerne  butt  that  of  heavenly  things,  and 
wholly  to  possess  my  heart  himselfe  ;  and  either  releive 
me  in  this  Conflict,  now  soe  long  sustain'd,  or  continue 
to  me  Strength  to  resist  it,  still  fearing  if  the  combate 
cease  not  in  tyme,  I  should  repine  for  being  putt  vpon 
soe  hard  a  dutye.  Butt  then  againe,  when  I  call  to 
mind  the  Grace  of  Selfe  denyall,  the  honour  of  suffer- 
ing for  my  Saviour,  the  Reward  propos'd  for  those  that 
conquer,  the  delight  I  shall  conceive  in  seeing  and  en- 
joying him  ;  the  happyness  of  the  life  above  ;  I  that  am 
thus  feeble,  thus  fearfull,  call,  (out  of  exercise  of  his 
Grace,)  yea,  for  tribulation,  for  persecution,  for  contra- 
dictions to  my  own  desires,  and  for  every  thing  agree- 
able to  the  Spiritt  and  displeasing  to  the  flesh.  Thus, 
with  St.  Paul,  when  I  am  weake  then  am  I  strong ; 
when  I  am  in  sorrow  then  am  I  rejoiceing  ;  one  whome 
I  love  is  here,  butt  I  am  gott  to  other  Company,  and 
well  have  I  been  regal'd,  for  God  has  been  very  gratious 
to  me  ;  most  bitterly  have  I  wept  to  think  how  much 
of  my  heart  he  has,  how  little  my  blessed  Saviour,  who 
has  loved  and  suffered  for  me  soe  much  more  ;  happy, 
ah  happy,  are  you  my  friend,  that  are  past  that  mighty 
love  to  the  Creature.  Butt  I  make  this  my  humble 
confession  to  God  and  you,  bewayleing  my  loveing  any- 
thing butt  himself;  imploreing  him  to  translate  my  af- 
fections, and  place  them  on  him  alone.     Thus  to  you 


40  THE    LIFE    OF 


doe  I  display  my  griefe,  I  can  leave  him  whome  here  I 
love,  to  goe  to  my  Jesus  for  ever ;  butt  I  Confess  'tis 
hard  for  me  to  leave  him  now  soe  often  as  I  doe,  and 
this  breaks  my  heart,  that  after  soe  many  solemn  pro- 
fessions to  God,  what  I  would  doe  for  him,  I  should 
with  such  reluctancy  part  from  this  person,  to  pray,  and 
to  read,  and  to  goe  to  holy  dutyes. 

"  Now,  dear  friend,  should  I  marry,  and  refuse  to 
goe  to  my  Lord,  part  vnwillingl^^j  or  refuse  him,  what 
would  become  of  me?  No,  No,  I  will  remaine  my  Sa- 
viours ;  he  shall  be  my  love,  my  husband,  my  all ;  I 
will  keepe  my  Virgin,  present  it  vnto  Christ,  and  not 
putt  myselfe  into  the  temptation  of  loveing  any  thing  in 
Competition  with  my  God." 

Thus  farr  this  devout  and  tender  Creature  :  nor  this 
the  last  wherein  she  has  conjur'd  me  to  advise  what 
she  should  resolve  on,  when  often  her  heart  as  I  said, 
has  been  divided  betweene  her  lovers,  as  was  St.  Pauls 
in  another  case,  even  wishing  to  be  dissolved,  that  she 
might  be  with  Christ,  and  freed  from  all  this  solicitude, 
as  she  has  frequently  express'd  it  to  me.  And  now 
what  was  I  to  returne  ?  truely  I  was  myselfe  also  some- 
tymes  divided  in  my  thoughts.  She  had  perpetuall 
Inclinations  to  retire  from  all  the  world,  espetially  ap- 
prehending that  by  any  secular  circumstances,  she 
might  possibly  remaine  in  a  doubtful  condition,  and  the 
resolution  was  once  soe  strongly  fix'd,  that  with  noe 
small  difficulty  I  opposed  it.  Being  soe  fully  perswa- 
ded  as  I  Vv^as,  that  they  would  be  exceeding  blessings 
to  one  another,  rare  examples  of  the  conjugall  state, 
and  that  nothing  could  hinder  the  pursuite  of  an  holy 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  41 


life  and  the  love  of  God,  soe  much  as  this  pendulous 
and  vnceitaine  condition,  whilst  marriage  she  would 
find  compose  her  devout  spiritt,  and  improve  it,  I  told 
her.  she  was  not  free,  as  I  conceiv'd,  to  resolve  soe  pe- 
remptorylye  ;  that  it  was  to  doe  violence  to  one  whome 
she  acknowledged  could  not  live  without  her ;  nay, 
that  if  to  comply  with  her,  he  putt  constraint  vpon  him- 
selfe,  she  should  not  doe  well,  since  his  Action  in  this 
Case  ought  to  be  as  free  as  her  owne ;  and  that  she 
should  doe  a  much  nobler  and  [more]  self  denying 
thing,  to  preferr  the  satisfaction  of  soe  worthy  a  Crea- 
ture before  her  owne.  I  consented  to  all  her  Elogies 
of  the  Virgin  State,  butt  that  there  were  no  less  due  to 
the  Conjugall ;  and  that  if  there  were  some  temptations 
in  it.  her  meritts  would  be  the  greater,  and  the  exercise 
of  her  virtue  ;  Circled  indeed  it  was  with  some  tollera- 
ble  thorns,  butt  rewarded  with  illustrious  Coronetts  for 
the  good  it  produc'd ;  that  as  to  the  oppertunityes  of 
serveing  God,  an  active  life  was  preferrable  to  the  Con- 
templative ;  and  that  I  should  not  doubt  to  see  as  many 
Crown'd  in  heaven  who  had  been  marryed,  as  of  Vir- 
gins :  since  from  Marriage  all  the  Virgins  in  the  world 
had  their  orriginall,  and  all  the  Saints  that  ever  were 
or  ever  shall  be ;  that  it  was  the  Seminary  of  the 
Church  and  care  of  Angells  ;  and  that  [though]  our 
beloved  [Lord]  were  borne  of  a  Virgin,  she  was  yett 
vail'd  vnder  the  Cover  of  Marriage ;  and  soe  when  St. 
Paul  exalted  the  Celibate  above  it,  for  the  advantages 
he  enumerates,  itt  was  nott  to  derogate  from  Marriage, 
butt  because  of  the  present  distress  and  the  Impediments 
of  a  family  to  an  Itinerant  and  Persecuted  Apostle,  and 
those  who  in  that  Conjuncture  had  noe  certaine  aboade. 


42  THE    LIFE    OF 


That  as  to  the  perfection  and  puritye  of  the  State,  'twas 
one  thing  to  be  marryed  to  a  Man,  and  another  to  a 
Husband  ;  to  the  first  indeed,  most  of  the  world  were 
joined,  to  the  second,  none  butt  the  Rehgious.  That 
as  'twas  Instituted  in  Paradise,  and  dignifyed  by  our 
blessed  Saviours  presence ;  compared  to  the  most  inti- 
mate Indearements  of  Christ  to  his  Church,  'twas  often 
blessed  with  exterordnary  prosperity  even  in  this 
world.  That  the  fidelity,  society,  mutuall  affection, 
and  instance  of  religious  Marriages,  the  regularity  of 
their  Charitye,  and  hospitality  of  their  familyes,  was 
Emulous  of  the  highest  pretences  of  the  Virgin  and 
more  solitary  Condition.  Doe  you  (would  I  say)  es- 
teeme  it  noe  honour  to  have  given  Saints  to  the  Church, 
and  usefull  members  to  the  State  in  which  you  live ; 
and  that  you  can  be  hospitable  to  strangers,  institute 
jouY  Children,  give  instruction  to  your  servants,  exam- 
ple to  the  neighbours,  and  be  the  parent  of  a  thousand 
other  blessings.  I  remembered  her  of  what  somelymes 
she  would  say,  that  if  she  marryed  and  had  noe  Child- 
ren, she  should  be  displeased ;  and  if  she  had,  she 
might  have  either  too  many,  or  too  wicked  and  vnto- 
ward ;  this,  I  told  her,  was  to  distrust  Gods  providence, 
and  she  did  not  well  to  make  those  reflections ;  when 
in  all  events  there  was  exercise  of  faith,  and  patience. 
Industry,  and  other  graces ;  and  that  she  would  not  be 
happy  vnless  shee  was  alone,  not  considering  that  the 
few  may  be  as  well  fooles,  as  vitious, — which  is  worse  ; 
and  that  one  of  the  many  may  recompence  all  her  care 
for  the  rest ;  that  if  she  who  bare  her  had  been  of  that 
mind,  there  would  have  been  one  less  Saint  to  Glorifye 
God ;  that  I  should  have  wanted  an  excellent  friend, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  43 


and  soe  would  many  others,  who  now  bless'd  God  for 
the  Gharityes  she  did  them.  Ypon  all  these  Topycs  I 
challeng'd  her  humility,  her  faith,  and  her  love.  I  laid 
before  her  how  much  more  affected,  morose,  covetous, 
obnoxious  to  temptation  and  reproach  an  old  Maid 
would  be,  who  was  knowne  to  have  engaged  her  af- 
fection allready,  than  one  who  had  never  entertain'd 
an  address.  Then  the  trouble  and  sorrow  of  brinorin^ 
forth  and  expence  of  a  family,  would  att  another  tyme 
affreight  her  ;  little  woemen,  I  told  her,  had  little  paine  ; 
and  that  Glueens  had  endured  as  much  with  patience 
and  chearfullness ;  that  as  to  great  fortunes  and  sup- 
port, opulent  couples  were  not  exempted  from  Gares, 
and  that  tho'  I  Vv^as  assured  God  had  great  blessings  of 
that  kind  also  in  reserve ;  yett  sowre  provisions  and 
less  Ambition,  were  as  happy  in  the  mutuall  affection 
of  each  other,  where  there  was  a  Gompetency  for  the 
present,  and  soe  faire  a  prospect  for  the  future :  in  a 
word,  that  there  was  some  thing  soe  patriarchall  (not 
to  say  despotic)  and  Royall  in  a  well  govern'd  family, 
and  worthy  marriages,  that  I  could  not  butt  give  it  pre- 
heminence  to  all  she  had  objected.  These  were  the 
conflicts  wee  had  on  this  subject ;  and  the  difficultyes 
she  suggested,  where,  I  plainly  told  her,  Itt  was  by  no 
means  agreeable  to  her  piety,  nor  to  the  Equitye  of  the 
thing,  that  any  less  consideration  than  a  fore  sight  of 
inevitable  ruine,  should  suspend  her  resolutions  of  give- 
ing  her  selfe  to  a  deserving  person  whose  approaches 
had  been  soe  honourable,  and  whome  she  confess'd  she 
lov'd  above  all  the  world.  There  is  certainly  nothing 
more  calamitous,  then  where  love  (as  they  call  it)  drives 
the  bargaine,  and  passion  blinds  the  Man  ;  butt  soe  the 


44  THE    LIFE     OF 


young  things  precipitate,  and  the  Giddy  are  entangled, 
and  when  the  fancy  cooles,  repentance  succeeds,  and  it 
ends  in  aversion  and  anxietye.  But  these  Calentures 
concern'd  not  this  excellent  Couple,  and  such  a  Conju- 
gation of  likely  circumstances.  I  would  tell  her  itt 
was  not  enough  to  be  happy  alone,  when  she  might 
make  another  soe  ;  or  ought  she  to  resolve  not  to  alter 
her  Condition  till  she  was  out  of  reach  of  accidents, 
that  it  became  a  cruell  and  ill  natur'd  Laban  to  exact  a 
double  apprentyshipp  for  a  Rachell ;  that  it  was  Saul 
that  putt  David  to  adventure  for  a  wife ;  that  the  He- 
roick  tymes  were  now  antiquated,  and  people  proceed- 
ed by  gentler  and  more  compendious  methods ;  and 
the  decencyes  of  her  sex,  and  custome  of  the  nation, 
and  the  honour  of  the  condition,  and  the  want  of  Mon- 
asteryes  and  pyous  Recesses  obliged  her  to  marry. 
Marry  then  in  Gods  name,  said  I,  since  my  advice  you 
aske :  itt  is  finally  what  I  think  you  ought  to  resolve 
on;  tho'  if  I  studdied  my  owne  satisfaction,  I  should 
rather  promote  this  aversion,  and  seeke  to  fortifye  your 
suspicion  ;  for  as  I  profess  it  the  greatest  Contentment 
of  my  life  that  you  have  vowed  me  your  friendshipp 
soe  solemnly,  and  tkat  you  will  be  constant,  whilst  I 
incite  you  to  marry,  I  endanger  and  putt  it  to  the  haz- 
ard ;  for  perhaps  3^our  husband  may  be  jealous,  tho' 
without  cause ;  or  he  may  have  particular  dislike  to 
me,  or  may  not  be  noble,  free,  and  ingenious,  or  may 
make  you  vnhappy  otherwise,  which  would  be  the 
greatest  affliction  could  happen  to  me ;  whereas,  con- 
tinuing as  you  are,  mistress  of  your  selfe  and  your  con- 
versation, your  virtue  and  my  yeares,  and  the  con- 
science of  my  duty,  and  both  our  discretions,  will  pie- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  45 


serve  our  friendshipp  honorable,  pious,  and  vsefull.  In 
sum,  I  said  nothing  vpon  Marriage,  butt  what  I  could 
vnravell  to  the  advantage  of  virginity e, — the  ease  of  a 
single  life,  the  opportunityes  of  doeing  more  good,  of 
serveing  God  better,  of  prolonging  life — by  example  and 
precept  from  Scripture,  from  Fathers,  from  Legends  and 
hi  story  es,  and  present  her  such  a  lovely  picture  of  that 
state,  which  approaches  next  the  nature  of  Angells, 
(who  neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage)  as 
would  have  brought  her  to  more  than  a  suspense,  or 
requireing  farther  advice :  she  would  have  needed  no 
farther  argument  to  render  her  more  vnkind  to  Hymen, 
and  to  the  repose  of  one  who  she  knew  I  pittyed  ;  and, 
therefore,  I  ever  perswaded  her  against  the  Recess  she 
soe  often  was  threatning,  as  a  thing  singular  and  of 
little  advantage.  I  applauded  her  recourse  to  assiduous 
and  humble  prayer ;  that  God  would  direct  her  for  the 
best,  and  that  after  all  I  had  said  and  written  to  her, 
she  would  make  that  her  Oracle ;  being  confident  that 
God,  who  had  hitherto  taken  such  signall  care  of  her, 
would  not  suffer  her  to  miscarry  in  this  Concerne. 
For  I  could  not  endure  to  see  her  allwayes  in  a  doubffull 
and  vncertaine  condition  ;  because  it  could  be  profitable 
for  neither,  for  when  she  had  seriously  consulted  her 
friends,  she  had  done  all  that  was  required ;  and  since 
it  could  not  but  be  their  vniversall  suffrage,  she  was  to 
accquiess,  I  therefore  advised  her,  that  in  case  she  still 
resolv'd  to  live  as  she  was,  it  should  be  butt  for  a  tyme, 
without  Imposeing  on  her  selfe,  and  soe  from  tyme  to 
tyme,  as  Circumstances  might  be,  butt  till  then  mind 
her  health ;  for  she  began  to  looke  pale  and  leane,  and 
had  been  too  negligent  of  her  selfe,  which  I  reproved 


46  THE    LIFE    OF 

her  for.     Butt  this  did  not  alltogeather  the  effect, — she 
rejoiiieSj  and  writes  to  me  from  Twicknam  thus: — 

"  2^th  July. 
"  Your  advice  I  hke,  and  all  you  say  on  both  sub- 
jects ;  yett  am  still  where  I  was,  wishing  to  live  alone, 
as  a  thing  most  suiteable  to  my  humour,  and  the  nearest 
way  to  heaven ;  nor  can  you  blame  one  soe  v/eake  as 
I  am,  to  chuse  that  path  which  will  soonest  bring  me  to 
my  Journeys  end.  However,  I  shall  observe  your 
Rules,  and  soe  farr  your  counsell,  as  not  to  determine 
any  thing  rashly,  till  he  give  me  free  leave  to  doe  it. 
In  the  meane  tyme,  if  you  approve  of  it,  that  the  world 
may  not  think  by  my  growing  leane  as  you  say,  I  leave 
it  with  regrett,  for  the  tyme  I  stay  here  I  intend  to  take 
care  of  my  health,  and  drink  the  Cows  milk  in  the 
Morning,  and  because  I  am  not  to  sleep  imediately 
vpon  it,  my  Maid  shall  read  to  me  some  divine  Subject ; 
then  rise  and  finish  my  private  dutyes,  then  pray  with 
my  Servants,  and  be  dressed  by  Eleaven,  and  soe  have 
tyme  before  prayers  to  read  a  Chapter  with  other  dutyes ; 
note  and  collect  something  out  of  what  I  read.  Att  six 
in  the  Evening  I  will  repeate  my  Course  againe,  and 
after  that  learn  such  things  by  heart  as  I  gladly  would 
retaine  ;  after  Supper  pray  with  my  people  and  by  my 
selfe,  my  Maid  reading  to  me  whilst  I  am  vndressing, 
and  then  lay  me  downe  in  peace.  This  is  the  method 
I  intend  for  ordnary  dayes,  nott  Frydayes,  when  you 
know  I  am  to  fast,  and  spend  it  intirely  with  God ;  or 
Sundayes,  [when]  I  will  rise  early  and  Imploy  it  with 
as  much  devotion  as  I  can  ; — this  is,  I  say,  the  course  I 
purpose  here,  if  you  approve  of  it ;  for  the  rest,  eat  my 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  47 


meate  heartyly,  and  comply  with  the  conversation  of 
the  Family  ;  tho'  I  all  this  tyme  wish  extreamly  that  I 
were  setled,  where  I  needed  vse  none  of  these  Imper- 
tinencyes,  the  observances  and  ceremonyes  of  visitts, 
formall  meals,  (fcc.  to  the  expence  of  my  tyme  ;  butt 
wholly  attend  on  God,  night  and  day.  Nor  should  I 
dare  yett  to  indulge  my  selfe  this  liberty,  did  I  att  all 
please  my  selfe  in  it  as  formerly  I  had  done  :  or  that  I 
intend  to  continue  it  above  3  months  att  furthest,  if  I 
change  not  my  Condition,  which  is  to  marry  (as  you 
would  have  me)  and  become  worldly.  Soe  as  by  the 
end  of  Summer,  I  shall  be  free,  and  then  none  will  con- 
sider my  lookes,  nor  shall  I  be  concern'd  if  they  doe,  att 
the  distance  of  my  retreate.  Pray  lett  me  know  what 
you  think  of  all  this.  I  was  this  day  very  devout,  but 
nott  tender,  and  I  hope  it  was  as  well,  for  I  thank  God 
I  have  made  good  resolutions." 

This  being  the  substance  of  her  letter  in  reply  to 
one  of  myne,  your  Ladyshipp  may  perceive,  as,  how 
devoutly  this  blessed  Virgin,  (for  soe  must  I  call  her,) 
spent  her  tyme  in  that  delicious  place,  and  amongst 
such  a  Confluence  of  Yisittants,  (fee,  soe  how  her  heart 
was  bent  vpon  her  Northern  Recess,  to  which  I  was  soe 
averse ;  and  I  was  confident  she  would  not  long  have 
enjoy'd  herselfe  in  it ;  nor  could  the  distance  of  Here- 
fordsheir  have  worne  him  out  of  her  thoughts,  which 
that  of  France  and  Spaine  could  not  doe.  The  trueth 
is,  I  did  heartily  pitty  that  worthy  Gentleman,  and  saw 
noe  reason  in  the  world  Avhy  they  should  not  both  be 
happy  in  each  other,  and  my  friend  composed,  without 
takeing  any  exterordnary  or  singular  course ;  tho'  on 


48  THE    LIFE    OF 


the  other  hand,  when  I  considered  thro'  what  difficul- 
tyes  and  rehictances,  this  tender  creature,  now  in  the 
flower  of  her  beauty,  witt,  and  reputation  att  court, 
would  sacrifice  all  to  God,  I  could  hardly  abstaine  from 
crying  out,  O  magnanimous  Virgin,  I  applaud  your  de- 
signe,  I  approve,  I  admire  your  choice  ;  I  magnifye  your 
example  ;  itt  is  great,  'tis  illustrious,  because  it  is  the  bet- 
ter part,  and  formed  vpon  just  consideration  :  you  have 
weighed  itt  long,  and  enquired  of  God :  I  allow,  I  allow, 
and  envye  your  purpose  ;  O  sweet  repose  of  a  devout 
soule,  the  flames  of  Celestial  love,  the  fruition  of  Jesus, 
theantepasts  of  Heaven,  what  shall  I  call,  what  shall  I 
name  it;  Consumate  felicitye  who  has  none  to  feare,  none 
to  serve,  none  to  love  butt  God ;  but  whilst  you  are  made 
free  why  leave  you  me  behind,  intangl'd  in  the  world, 
whilst  you  are  in  the  light,  I  [am]  in  darkness  and  a 
chaos ;  for  when  you  are  gone  what  is  the  Court  or 
Country  to  your  friend.  I  shall  see  you  no  more  in  the 
Circle,  nor  Joine  voices  with  you  in  the  Quire,  nor  visitt 
your  holy  cell ;  with  you  our  Joyes  are  departed,  re- 
ceive me  then  from  this  hateful!  abode ;  and  begg  of 
God,  that  the  circumstances  of  my  life  being  composed, 
I,  who  Emulate,  may  Imitate  your  example,  and  de- 
vote the  remainder  of  my  few  dayes  to  eternity ;  or  at 
least  while  I  am  to  converse  here  below,  (for  you  are 
gone  from  the  Earth)  may  I  live  in  the  contemplation 
of  your  virtues,  and  be  a  part  of  your  Intercessions. 
Goe  then,  my  holy  freind,  when  you  please,  and  be 
happy. 

Madam,  you  may  possibly  imagine  this  a  Roman- 
tick  folly,  or  the  transport  of  some  lover  ;  butt  I  assure 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  49 


you,  they  were  the  dictates  of  my  mind  and  heart, 
whilst  I  was  Councelling  her  to  stay  and  to  marry  ;  for, 
tho'  I  thought  this  more  expedient,  I  could  not  but  pro- 
nounce that  the  more  perfect  and  exterordnary  well. 
Thus  she  continued  att  Twicknam,  as  it  were,  in  pro- 
bation, for  the  most  part  retired,  and  sometymes  in  con- 
versation.    He  often  came  to  visitt  her,  and  that  broke 
her  heart  if  he  abstain'd  from  comeing.     She  was  still 
vneasy  ;  soe  after  some  weeks,  she  returnes  to  London, 
with  full  resolution  of  beginning  her  Journey,  and  the 
very  day  was  prefixt ;  butt  when  it  approach'd,  indeed 
it  was  not  possible  to  pacifye  my  Lady  Berkley ;  who 
being  to  lose  the  most  sweet  and  agreeable  companion 
in  the  world,  imploy'd  all  that  friendshipp,  love,  and 
passion  could  inspire  for  the  changeing  her  resolution, 
and  the  Convulsion  was  so  sensible  to  them  both,  that 
she  was  forced  to  give  way  to  her  Importunityes,  and 
deliberate  on  it  some  longer  tyme.     Nor  was  itt  allto- 
geather  in  the  consideration  of  my  Lady  alone,  that  she 
sufFer'd  herselfe  to  be  prevailed  on,  there  were  others 
whome  (when  it  came  to  the  Test)  she  was  vn willing 
to  leave  for  soe  long  a  tyme,  and  soe  great  a  distance, 
and  among  them,  I  should  be  strangely  vngratefull,  not 
to  acknowledge  the  share  I  had  in  her  thoughts  and 
excellent  nature,  when  I  shall  accquaint  you  of  the 
Resolution  she  had  to  take  a  little  house  att  Greenwich  ; 
and  I  had  commission  from  her  to  find  out  a  place 
whither  she  might  retire  to,  without  goeing  as  it  were 
out  of  the  world,  into  the  North  ;  not  being  able  as  she 
affirmed,  to  comply  any  longer  with  the  receiveing  and 
paying  Impertinent  visitts,  and  other  avocations  and 
circumstances,  which  took  vpp  all  her  tyme  att  London, 

4 


50  THE    LIFE    OF 


tho'  with  a  Lady  who  soe  much  esteem'd  her.  I  con- 
fess, I  was  not  forward  to  promote  this  designe,  not 
only  because  I  thought  [it]  inconvenient  for  a  Lady  soe 
young,  and  who  was  ahready  disposed  to  a  more  than 
ordnary  reservedness,  to  cherish  the  humour ;  butt  that  it 
would  appeare  like  something  over  singular  in  her  and 
prejudicial!  to  her  health.  I  proposed  therefore,  ber  ac- 
cepting the  best  accomodation  I  could  give  her,  and  she 
had  certainly  spent  some  considerable  ty  me  with  my  wife, 
and  retired  to  the  little  Cell,  where  your  Ladyshipp  has 
sometymes  found  her  ;  but  my  Lady  Berkley  could  not 
suffer  this  Ecclipse,  or  endure  that  she  should  goe  from 
her  with  any  patience.  Itt  was  on  this  that  she  writes 
me  thus  at  large  what  conflicts  she  had  endured  ;  and 
att  the  close  : — "  My  best  friend  as  to  my  being  in  your 
family,  itt  was  allmost,  and  ah  !  that  it  had  not  been 
allmost,  butt  alltogeather ;  for  whatever  you  think,  it 
is  hard  for  me  to  describe  how  sorry  I  am  to  be  thus 
farr  from  so  deare  a  friend  ;  and  you  don't  know  that  I 
have  given  over  severall  other  proposals  of  settling  my 
selfe,  when  that  thought  comes  into  my  head,  that  I 
shall  be  a  great  way  from  you,  vnless  I  continue  where 
I  am  att  least  for  some  months,  till  God  is  pleased  to 
dispose  of  me  one  way  or  other," 

Butt  whilst  she  was  in  this  vncertainty  and  suspence 
where  she  should  fix,  and  that  the  winter  began  to  ap- 
proach, there  was  a  play  to  be  acted  att  Court  before 
their  Majestyes,  wherein  none  were  to  be  Actors  butt 
persons  of  the  most  Illustrious  quality ;  the  Lady  Mary, 
since  Princess  of  Orange,  the  Dutchess  of  Monmouth, 
and  all  the  shineing  beautyes  ;  and  itt  was  not  possible 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  51 


to  leave  her  out,  who  had  vpon  the  Hke  solemnity  for- 
merly, and  when  she  was  Maid  of  Honour,  acquitted 
her  selfe  with  soe  vniversall  applause  and  admiration ; 
and  veryly,  never  was  any  thing  more  charmeing  and 
more  a  divertisement,  than  to  hear  her  at  any  tyme 
recite,  or  read  a  Dramatick  poem.  She  had  not  only  a 
most  happy  memory,  butt  exquisite  Judgment,  and 
could  add  those  motions  to  her  voice,  as  gave  what  she 
pronounced,  the  greatest  sweetness  and  grace  Imagin- 
able. This,  though  she  would  heretofore  and  butt 
rarely  have  done  for  diversion,  and  amongst  freinds, 
the  most  innocentt  in  the  world,  she  had  now  intirely 
taken  leave  of,  and  butt  in  Comply ance  with  some  great 
Ladyes  (whome  she  could  not  decently  refuse)  did  she 
willingly  see  a  play  att  the  Theater  ;  and  therefore,  to 
be  now  herselfe  an  Actoress  (tho'  am.ong  such  an  As- 
sembly of  noble  Persons)  was  to  putt  a  Mortification 
on  her,  that  cost  her  not  only  great  reluctancy,  butt 
miany  teares.  Butt  there  was  no  refuseing ;  the  King 
and  Duke  had  laid  their  Commands  vpon  her,  to  beare 
a  part  with  the  Lady  Mary,  and  others  of  Illustrious 
name.  I  came  often  to  her  when  she  was  reciteing, 
and  am  wittness  with  what  extreame  regrett,  and  how 
vnwelcome  to  her  this  honour  was.  Butt  she  had  att 
this  moment  alsoe  another  afiaire  in  hand,  which  more 
Imported  her,  and  the  difficulty  in  compassing  that 
which  solely  by  his  Majestes  favour  was  to  be  obtain'd, 
dispos'd  her  the  more  reasonably  to  comply.  She  had 
ever  since  her  Recess  from  Court,  hv'd  in  expectation 
of  the  present  which  of  course  their  Majestyes  vsed  to 
make  to  the  Maids  of  Honour,  who  haveing  waited  a 
competent  time  vpon  the  dueene,  doe  either  marry  or 


52  THE    LIFE    OF 


withdraw  from  Court  with  their  Roy  all  permission ; 
and  now  had  she  newly  solicited  the  Duke  to  bespeake 
my  Lord  Treasurer  about  it,  who  gave  her  kind  words, 
butt  told  her  he  must  have  the  Kings  particular  direc- 
tion in  it,  butt  in  the  meane  while,  was  not  forward  to 
put  his  Majestye  in  mind  of  it ;  and  there  was  nothing 
to  which  she  had  a  greater  aversion  then  the  Impor- 
tuneing  great  persons  in  her  owne  behalfe,  for  Civility 
which  did  not  flow  naturally  from  those  in  whose 
power  it  lay  to  oblige  her.  "  I  perceive,"  sayes  she,  in 
a  letter  to  me,  written  22d  September,  on  this  occasion, 
"  that  my  buissness  makes  noe  advance,  and  that  where 
I  least  expected  difiiculty  I  find  the  greatest.  The 
King  sayes  nothing  to  my  Lord  Treasurer,  nor  my 
Lord  to  him  ;  soe  that  for  ought  I  perceive,  'tis  likely 
to  depend  thus  a  long  tyme  :  well.  Gods  will  be  done, 
as  in  Heaven,  soe  on  Earth  ;  in  the  meane  tyme  I  am 
extreamly  heavy,  for  I  would  be  free  from  that  place, 
and  have  nothing  to  doe  in  itt  att  all ;  butt  it  will  not 
be,  for  the  play  goes  on  mightyly,  which  I  hoped  would 
never  have  proceeded  farther.  Dear  friend,  I  begg 
your  prayers  this  cloudy  Weather,  that  God  would 
endow  me  with  patience  and  Resignation.  Would  you 
beleive  itt,  there  are  some  that  envy  me  the  honour  (as 
they  esteeme  it)  of  acting  in  this  play,  and  pass  mali- 
tious  Jests  vpon  me.  Now  you  know  I  am  to  turne 
the  other  Cheeke,  nor  take  I  notice  of  itt." 

See  the  humility  of  this  excellent  Creature,  who 
you  soe  well  knew,  looked  on  this  occasion  as"  one  of 
her  greatest  afilictions,  and  would  have  devolved  the 
share  she  had  in  this  Court  Magnificence  on  any  other 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  53 


Lady  with  a  thousand  acknowledgments,  had  their 
Majestyes  butt  excused  her ;  butt  there  was  no  retreat- 
ing ;  she  had  her  part  assigned  her,  which,  as  itt  was 
the  most  illustrious,  soe  never  was  there  any  perform'd 
with  more  grace,  and  becomeing  the  solemnity.  She 
had  on  her  that  day  near  twenty  thousand  pounds  value 
of  Jewells,  which  were  more  sett  off  with  her  native 
beauty  and  luster  then  any  they  contributed  of  their 
owne  to  hers ;  in  a  word,  she  seemed  to  me  a  Saint  in 
Glory,  abstracting  her  from  the  Stage.  For  I  must  tell 
you,  that  amidst  all  this  pomp  and  serious  impertinence, 
whilst  the  rest  were  acting,  and  that  her  part  was  some- 
tymes  to  goe  off,  as  the  scenes  required,  into  the  tireing 
roome,  where  severall  Ladyes  her  companions  were 
railing  with  the  Gallants  trifleingly  enough  till  they 
were  called  to  reenter,  she  vnder  pretence  of  conning 
her  next  part,  was  retired  into  a  Corner,  reading  a 
booke  of  devotion,  without  att  all  concerning  herselfe 
or  mingling  with  the  young  Company  ;  as  if  she  had. 
no  farther  part  to  act,  who  was  the  principall  person  of 
the  Comedy  ;  nor  this  with  the  least  discernable  affec- 
tation, butt  to  divert  and  take  off  her  thoughts  from  the 
present  vanity,  which  from  her  soule  she  abhorred.  I 
mention  the  passage  as  a  singular  work  of  her  reall 
piety,  and  to  shew  how  she  continually  applyed  her 
mind  on  all  occasions,  and  how  little  transported  with 
those  splendid  follyes  and  gay  entertainments  which 
vsually  take  vp  soe  much  of  the  pretious  tyme  which  is 
given  vs  to  worke  out  our  Salvation.  I  need  not  en- 
large vpon  the  argument  of  the  Poem,  which  you  may 
be  sure,  however  defective  in  other  particulars,  was 
exactly  modest,  and  suiteable  to  the  Persons,  who  were 


54  THE    LIFE    OF 


all  of  the  first  rank  and  most  illustrious  of  the  Court  : 
nor  need  I  recount  to  your  Ladyshipp  with  what  a 
surprizeing  and  admirable  aire  she  trode  the  Stage,  and 
performed  her  Part,  because  she  could  doe  nothing  of 
this  sort,  or  any  thing  else  she  undertooke,  indifferently, 
butt  in  the  highest  perfection.  Butt  whilst  the  whole 
Theater  were  extolling  her,  she  was  then  in  her  owne 
Eyes,  not  only  the  humblest,  butt  the  most  diffident  of 
herself,  and  least  affecting  praise. 

Thus  ended  the  Play,  butt  soe  did  not  her  affliction, 
for  a  disaster  happened  which  extreamly  concern'd  her, 
and  that  was  the  loss  of  a  Diamond  of  considerable  val- 
lue,  which  had  been  lent  her  by  the  Countess  of  Suffolke  ; 
the  Stage  was  immediately  swept,  and  dilligent  search 
made  to  find  it,  butt  without  success,  soe  as  .probably 
it  had  been  taken  from  her,  as  she  was  oft  inviron'd 
with  that  infinite  Crowd  which  tis  impossible  to  avoid 
vpon  such  occasion.  Butt  the  loss  was  soone  repair'd, 
for  his  Royall  Highness  vnderstanding  the  trouble  she 
was  in,  generousely  sent  her  wherewithall  to  make  my 
Lady  Suffolke  a  present  of  soe  good  a  Jewell.  For  the 
rest  of  that  dayes  triumph,  I  have  a  particular  account 
still  by  me  of  the  rich  Apparell  she  had  on  her,  amount- 
ing, besides  the  Pearles  and  Pretious  Stones,  to  above 
three  hundred  pounds,  butt  of  all  which  she  immedi- 
ately disposed  her  selfe,  soe  soone  as  ever  she  could  gett 
clear  of  the  Stage.  Without  complimenting  an}?-  Crea- 
ture, or  trifling  with  the  rest  who  staid  the  collation 
and  refreshment  that  was  prepar'd,  away  she  slipps 
like  a  Spiritt  to  Berkley  House,  and  to  her  little  Ora- 
torye ;  whither  I  waited  on  her,  and  left  her  on  her 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  55 


knees,  thanking  God  that  she  was  deUvered  from  this 
vanity,  and  with  her  Saviour  againe,  never,  sayes  she, 
will  I  come  within  this  temptation  more  whilst  I  breath. 

And  thus  Mrs.  Blagge  took  her  leave  of  the  pomp 
and  glory  of  the  world,  and  with  fresh  resolutions  that 
if  other  circumstances  did  not  intervene,  namely,  such 
as  might  soe  alter  her  condition  as  decently  to  counte- 
nance her  longer  stay  in  these  Parts,  she  would  yett  be- 
take hei-selfe  to  her  designed  retreat.  She  was  not  satis- 
fyed  that  those  who  could  not  butt  take  notice  what  Per- 
son it  was  she  preferr'd  before  all  the  world,  should 
speak  of  her  withdrawing  from  Court,  and  liveing  now 
soe  long  near  it  without  proceeding  any  further,  tho' 
divers  could  not  be  driven  from  the  opinion  that  she 
was  allready  marryed.  Itt  is  certaine  that  excellent 
Man  could  never  think  of  parting  with  her,  nor  she 
herselfe  from  soe  many  Friends  besides,  as  infinitely 
vallued  her;  butt  vnless  he  could  alsoe  decently  have 
taken  himselfe  from  Court,  which  was  the  thing  they 
both  projected  and  desired,  that  they  might  wholy  quit 
all  dependancys  which  interrupted  their  living  to- 
geather,  butt  which  for  many  prudent  considerations 
had  been  inconvenient  for  him  as  yett,  she  was  not 
easily  perswaded  to  linger  here  and  be  vpon  vncertain- 
tyes,  who  had  all  along  in  her  Eye  the  modelling  of 
her  life,  so  as  not  to  be  obliged  to  those  complyances 
she  was  of  necessity  to  vndergoe  in  a  Station  soe  near 
to  the  Court,  unless  Mr.  G.  should  fix  on  firme  Im- 
ployment  as  might  not  only  countenance  her  stay  and 
mariying,  butt  render  other  circumstances  easy  like- 
wise :  tho',  as  I  said,  there  was  nothing  which  they 


56  THE    LIFE    OF 


both  did  breathe  after  more  then  to  have  settled  some- 
where remote  in  the  Country,  from  all  Intanglements 
of  the  World.  Thus  farr  she  had  pleased  herselfe  to 
acquaint  me  with  her  most  intimate  concerns.  I  doe 
not  affirme  that  to  obviate  some  objections  of  hers  he 
meditated  the  purchase  of  that  honorable  Office  which 
he  afterwards  succeeded  in,  butt  the  Master  of  the 
Robes,  now  Earle  of  Rochester,  discovering  his  inten- 
tion about  this  tyme  to  part  with  that  place,  might,  in 
my  opinion,  be  an  inducement  with  them  to  marry, 
and  rather  trust  God  with  the  event  of  things,  then  give 
the  World  occasion,  after  soe  long  expectation,  to  think 
she  made  a  retreat  out  of  rashness  or  discontent :  where- 
fore vpon  the  16th  of  May,  which  was  Assention  Day, 
they  both  marryed  togeather  in  the  Temple  Church, 
by  the  Reverend  Doctor  Lake,  one  of  his  Royall  High- 
nesse  Chaplaines,  my  Lady  Berkley  and  a  Servant  of 
the  Brides  onely  being  present,  and  I  think  nobody 
else,  both  the  blessed  Paii^  receiveing  the  holy  Sacra- 
ment, and  consecrateing  the  Solemnity  with  a  double 
Mistery. 

Her  not  acquainting  me  with  this  particular  of  a 
good  while  after,  occasioned  a  friendly  quarrell  between 
vs,  that  she  who  had  intrusted  me  for  many  years  with 
all  her  concerns,  nay  her  greatest  Inclinations,  and 
vpon  occasion  not  only  named  me  for  the  particular 
Friend  that  should  be  wittness  of  her  Marriage,  butt 
give  her  to  her  Husband,  should  now  with  such  In- 
dustry conceale  it  from  me.  And  now  I'le  tell  your 
Ladyshipp  how  I  could  not  butt  discover  it,  for  noe 
sooner  was  the  Knott  tyed,  butt  she  one  day  desired  I 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  57 


would  lett  her  pervse  all  the  Letters  I  had  of  hers,  and 
which  she  knew  I  too  religiously  reserv'd,  not  that  she 
could  be  conscious  of  haveing  ever  written  that  to  me 
which  might  not  have  past  the  severest  Eye,  butt  be- 
cause there  being  in  many  of  them  professions  of  the 
sinceritye  and  holy  friendshipp  that  an  excellent  Soule 
(and  such  as  hers  was)  could  express,  they  might  by 
any  accident  possibly  fall  into  hands  that  prophane 
every  thing,  and  most,  [the]  innocent  and  virtuous ;  I 
failed  not  to  transmitt  them  to  her,  nor  she  to  returne 
them,  as  indeed  finding  nothing  in  them  which  should 
cause  her  to  deprive  me  of  a  Treasure  she  knew  I  soe 
infinitely  vallued  ;  nor  could  I  beleive  that  tho'  she  had 
given  [herself]  to  so  worthy  a  Person  she  design'd  by 
sending  for  her  Letters  to  break  with  me,  as  Ladys  vse 
to  doe  with  vnfortunate  Rivalls :  for  she  thus  accom- 
panyes  her  Pacquett : 

My  Friend,  This  being  Tuesday,  a  Day  which  long 
since  you  know  has  belonged  to  a  Friend  of  myne,  I 
have  putt  togeather  all  the  Letters,  Papers,  and  other 
Fragments,  excepting  Meditations,  which  I  think  you 
have  Coppyes  of,  and  among  which  are  some  Prayers 
of  mine,  and  all  your  Bookes ;  only  that  you  last  sent 
me,  and  I  am  now  reading,  of  the  Intercourse  betweene 
Christ  and  the  Soule,  I  desire  to  retaine,  because  now 
and  then  I  am  much  pleased  and  softned  with  some 
passages  of  it ;  and  now  I  have  this  day  prayed  your 
prayers,  thought  your  thoughts,  wish'd,  I  dare  say, 
your  wishes,  which  were  that  I  might  every  Day  sett 
looser  and  looser  to  the  things  of  this  World,  discern- 
ing, as  every  day  I  doe,  the  folly  and  vanity  of  it :  how 

4* 


58  THE    LIFE    OF 


short  all  its  Pleasures,  how  trifling  all  its  Recreations, 
how  false  most  of  its  Friendshipps,  how  transitory 
every  thing  in  it,  and  on  the  contrary,  how  sweete  the 
Service  of  God,  how  delightfull  the  meditateing  on  his 
Word,  how  pleasant  the  Conversation  of  the  FaithfuU, 
and  above  all,  how  charmeing  Prayer,  how  glorious 
our  Hopes,  how  gratious  our  God  is  to  all  his  Children, 
how  gentle  his  Corrections,  and  how  frequently  by  the 
first  Invitations  of  his  Spiritt,  he  calls  vs  from  our  low 
Designes  to  those  great  and  noble  ones  of  serveing  him, 
and  attaineing  eternall  happiness  ;  these  have  been  this 
Dayes  Thoughts  and  Imployment ;  for  my  Lady 
Hamilton  being  here,  and  some  Freinds  att  Cards,  I 
have  had  the  whole  Day  to  myselfe.  Rejoyce  with 
me  my  Friend  and  be  exceeding  glad,  for  soe  it  be- 
comes vs  whenever  wee  have  opportunity  of  serveing 
him. 

And  now,  Madam,  by  this,  which  accompanied  the 
redition  of  her  Letters,  your  Ladyshipp  may  conclude 
what  Courtshipp  there  vsed  to  pass  betweene  vs  ;  how- 
ever, her  solicitude  thus  for  them  on  a  suddaine  might 
well  give  me  vmbrage,  and  I  was  resolved  to  live  vnder 
an  affected  Ignorance,  assured  by  knowing,  and  as  af- 
terwards I  learn'd,  that  this  niceness  could  never  pro- 
ceed from  herselfe,  but  from  some  other  prevalent  obli- 
gation ;  and  I  ever  esteemed  it  an  Impertinence  to  be 
over  curious  when  I  found  there  was  designe  of  con- 
cealement,  and  should  have  much  wondred  att  it  of  her 
to  me,  butt  that  I  was  soe  perfectly  accquainted  with 
her  Virtues ;  whereof  one,  and  that  none  of  the  least 
care  in  her  sex,  was  that  whenever  she  was  vnder  a 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  59 


promise  of  Sacrifice,  nothing  in  the  World  could  vnlock 
her  Bosome,  or  slack  her  resolution.     A  Secrett'  was 
indeed  a  Secrett  when  comitted  to  her :  and  yett  againe, 
when  I  called  to  mind  the  reiterated  Premisses  she  had 
made  me  never  to  alter  her  condition  without  adviseing 
with  me,  I  was  somtymes  in  suspence  of  my  Conjec- 
tures, and  woutd  often  reproach  myselfe  for  the  Sugges- 
tion.    Nor  did  this  a  little  confirme  me  that  she  was 
not  marryed,  that  my  Lady  Berkley  now  vpon  her  goe- 
ing  with  her  Husband,  design'd  Ambassoder  Exteror- 
dinarye  to  the  Court  of  France,  and  Plenepotentiarye 
at  the  famous  Treaty  of  Nymeghen,  she  solemnly  con- 
sulted me  about  her  accompanying  her  Ladyshipp  to 
Paris,  and  staying  there  with  her  some  competent  tyme, 
to  see  how  God  would  dispose  of  things.     I  must  ac- 
knowledg  I  was  not  soe  averse  from  this  proposall  of 
hers,  ashopeing  it  might  divert  her  melancholy  designe 
and  hank[ering]  after  Herefordsheir,  and  since  my  son, 
then  butt  a  Youth,  had  importun'd  me  to  lett  him  travell, 
I  was  the  easier  inclin'd  to  gratifye  him,  vpon  the  as- 
sureance  I  had  of  the  great  care  she  would  have  of  him, 
since  he  was  not  only  to  accompany  her  in  the  way, 
butt  be  in  the  same  House  with  her,  and  in  all  things 
injoin'd  to  follow  her  dirrections.     Nor  ever  could  he 
have  had  soe  blessed  an  opportunitye  of  improveing 
himselfe  ;  this  little  selfe  interest  obtain'd  on  me  I  con- 
fess, att  that  tyme,  butt  such  as  I  would  most  willingly 
have  sacrificed,  could  I  have  prevail'd  with  her  to  stay 
without  pursueing  her  Notherne  Journey,  where  [the] 
abandoning  herselfe  to  Solitude,  must  soone  have  ruin'd 
her  health  and  made  her  vnbappy, 


60  THE    LIFE    OF 

This  excursion  then  concluded  on,  and  lyeing  intire- 
ly  vpon  me  for  her  Provisions  and  Supplyes  abroad,  her 
mind  scem'd  to  be  much  att  ease,  butt  it  was  some 
Months  that  this  resolution  was  taken  ere  they  sett 
forth,  and  all  this  tyme,  I  am  perswaded,  she  and  her 
Husband  liv'd  with  the  same  reserves  that  the  Angells 
doe  in  Heaven,  not  thinking  fitt  to  cohabitt  till  they  de- 
clar'd  their  Marriage,  which  for  reasons  best  knowneto 
themselv's  they  did  not  doe  till  she  came  back  from 
France  againe.  In  this  interim,  and  towards  the  latter 
end  of  June,  she  did  me  the  honour  to  pass  a  fortnight 
att  my  little  Villa,  and  brought  me  a  Letter  of  Attorney  to 
transact  all  her  concerns  dureing  her  absence,  as  looke- 
ing  now  every  Day  when  my  Lord  Berkley  would  be 
dispatched  and  enter  on  his  Journey,  when  behold  vpon 
the  27th  a  Fitt  of  an  Appoplexy  seizing  on  him  as  he 
was  sitting  at  the  Councell  Table  at  White  Hall,  and 
continueing  on  him  all  that  night,  without  the  least  ap- 
pearance of  releasing  him  from  its  mortall  effects,  or  if 
that  might  be  possible,^of  ever  restoreing  him  to  tollera- 
ble  sence  and  vigour,  banished  all  thoughts  of  Embas- 
syes,  and  consequently  of  our  goeing  into  France. 
But  God  was  more  gratious  to  him,  for  the  Phisitians 
had  beyond  all  expectations,  and  even  amidst  dispair, 
brought  him  not  only  out  of  this  fatall  Paroxysme,  butt 
after  some  tyme  to  soe  much  strength  (tho'  in  most 
men's  opinions  not  perfectly  restored  to  his  memorye 
and  abilityes)  as  nothing  would  divert  him  from  his 
intended  progress.  On  the  10th  of  November  his  Ex- 
cellency sett  forth  with  his  Traine,  my  son  and  1  ac- 
companying them  the  first  Day  to  Sittinborne  ;  for  in 
regardof  his  Lordshipps  indisposition  they  made  butt 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  61 


easy  Journeys.  Canterbury  was  our  next  nights  re- 
pose ;  when  in  the  Morning  after  wee  had  been  att 
Prayers  in  the  Cathedrall,  Mrs.  Godolphin  and  I  walk- 
ing alone  togeather,  she  declared  to  me  what  exceeding 
regrett  she  was  in  to  leave  her  Friends.  Not  without 
many  teares  I  expostulated  with  her,  why  she  would 
goe  then,  I  am  engaged,  sayes  she,  to  my  Lady  Berkley, 
who  tells  me  I  breake  her  Heart  if  I  forsake  her,  and 
you  see  in  what  condition  her  Lord  is,  and  poore 
Woman,  what  would  become  of  her  if  he  should  dye, 
and  she  have  never  a  Friend  by  her  ?  nor  would  I  have 
People  think  I  retire  out  of  any  other  respect.  B  utt  Mr. 
E.  if  ever  I  returne  againe,  and  doe  not  marry,  I  will 
still  retire,  and  end  my  Dayes  among  you,  and  you  are 
like  to  have  the  share  of  the  trouble  ;  for  she  had  often 
said  she  would  divide  her  Life  among  her  Friends,  and 
did  me  the  honour  to  putt  me  into  the  Rank  of  one  of 
the  first. 

This,  Madam,  was  the  only  tyme  that  in  her  Life 
she  ever  prevaricated  with  me,  and  cover'd  it  with  that 
address ;  and  was,  I  am  most  assured,  in  deepest  sorrow, 
as  all  my  former  suspicions  of  her  being  marryed  van- 
ish't.  Doe  you  not  think,  sayes  she,  that  it  afiiicts  me 
to  the  Soule  to  part  with  you,  and  from  one  who  I  am 
sure  you  believe  I  love  intirely,  and  leave  in  my  Condi- 
tion ?  This,  vttered  with  a  filood  of  sorrow,  I  was  not 
able  to  sustain  without  reciprocall  kindness  and  tender- 
dess.  Butt  the  tyme  now  call'd  us  to  break  off  this 
Conversation,  the  saddest  that  in  my  Life  I  ever  saw 
[her]  in ;  she  had  left  her  Heart  att  another  Place,  and 
with  one  that  therefore  did  not  accompany  her,  because 


62  THE    LIFE    OF 


he  was  of  a  tender  nature,  and  durst  not  trust  his  Pas- 
sion, whilst  their  Designe  was  to  conceal  their  relation: 
Wee  arrived  this  evening  att  Dover,  where,  after  supper, 
calling  me  into  her  Chamber,  she  sign'd  and  delivered 
me  her  Will,  before  her  Maid,  wherein  she  had  me  her 
Administrator :  for  it  seems  her  Husband  had  impow- 
er'd  her  to  dispose  of  what  she  pleas'd,  and  as  she 
pleased,  as  afterwards  she  told  me ;  this  done,  she  de- 
sir'd  I  would  pray  with  her,  and  soe  I  left  her,  as  full 
of  Sorrow  as  she  could  hold. 

Early  the  next  Morning  I  waited  on  her  againe,  and 
againe,  and  fell  into  the  same  resentments  ;  and  that 
now  she  was  soe  near  the  tyme  when  she  must  be  sep- 
arated from  them  she  lov'd,  I  know  not  how,  said  I,  you 
part  from  your  Lover,  butt  never  may  you  feele  what  it 
is  to  part  from  a  Friend.  I  beleive  there  is  one  that 
you  really  love,  and  that  'tis  mutuall,  how  is  it  then  you 
thus  goe  from  him,  and  he  from  you  ?  this  is  strange 
proceedings,  'tis  spirituall,  'tis  high,  'tis  mysterious  and 
singular;  but  find  it  a  name  if  you  can,  for  I  confess  1 
vnderstand  it  not ;  doe  you  preserve  serenity  of  mind, 
and  yett  continue  languishing  ?  Nothing  is  in  nature 
soe  repugnant  as  Love  and  absence,  where  nothing  for- 
bidds  the  object  to  be  present.  O  heroick  Soules,  if  you 
think  to  be  att  ease,  I  shall  be  glad ;  butt  greatly 
oblig'd  to  learne  the  Secrett,  and  be  taught  to  beare  this 
Divulsion  with  as  little  pain,  since  I  know  of  noe  In- 
gagement  you  have  to  goe  from  your  Friends  and  those 
whom  you  profess  to  love.  Goe  back,  goe  back  then, 
and  be  happy  both,  for  this  Course  will  weare  you  both 
out,  if  really  you  love  him.  For  goodness  sake  doe  not 
break  my  Heart  (sayes  she),  you  see  I  am  engaged  ;  and 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  63 


then  she  wept  and  wore  such  a  cloud  of  Sorrow  all  that 
Morning,  that  she  could  hardly  speak  a  word  when  T 
lead  her  downe  to  the  Company.'now  prepareing  to  goe 
on  board.  Itt  was  vpon  the  13th  of  November  that 
vpon  the  Beach  wee  tooke  solemn  leave,  and  I  should 
discover  too  much  of  my  weakness  to  express  the  trou- 
ble I  was  in,  to  see  her  overwhelm'd  with  grief  that 
she  could  not  speake  one  word ;  butt  thus  she  was 
carried  into  the  Yatch,  when  being  a  little  launched  in- 
to the  Sea,  the  Fort  from  the  Castle  gave  his  Excellencye 
]  7  Guns,  and  was  answered  with  five,  according  to  the 
Forme. 

I  recount  this  passage  to  your  Ladyshipp  more 
minuitely,  as  being  the  most  passionate  and  most  mys- 
terious ;  nor  will  I  therefore  make  any  reflections  on  it 
then  what  I  am  perswaded  your  Ladyshipp  must  doe, 
and  then  conclude  them  with  admiration  how  two 
Persons  that  lov'd  each  other  soe  intirely,  could  support 
a  Divorce  soe  long  ;  or  what  might  be  the  Cause,  if  any 
other  there  were,  butt  a  singular  and  extreme  niceness 
not  to  come  together,  which  they  might  be  suspected  to 
doe,  however  to  appearance  they  lived  reserv'd,  till 
they  publickly  avow'd  their  Marriage,  which  you  may 
remember  they  forbare  till  they  had  made  their  Familyes 
and  Equipage  complete. 

On  the  5th  of  December,  she  writt  me  word  of  their 
safe  arrivall  att  Paris,  and  how  they  had  dispos'd  of 
themselves ;  together  with  an  Account  of  my  Lord  Am- 
bassadors magnificent  Entry  and  Audience  att  the 
French   Court,   with   other  pompious  Circumstances, 


64  THE    LIFE    OP 


which  yett  soe  little  concern'd  this  admirable  Creature, 
that  she  would  only  be  noe  Spectator  of  it,  butt  not  soe 
much  as  once  appeared  att  Court  all  the  tyme  of  her 
being  att  the  Ambassadors  House.  And  tho'  the  Re- 
port of  such  a  Beauty  and  Witt  had  soe  forerun  her  ar- 
rivall,  by  some  who  had  known  her  in  the  Circle  att 
Court,  that  the  French  King  was  desireous  to  see  her  in 
that  att  Saint  Germans ;  yett  she  soe  order'd  matters  as 
to  avoid  all  occasions  of  goeing  thither,  and  came  back 
to  England  without  giveing  that  great  Monarch  the 
satisfaction  of  one  Glaunce,  or  her  selfe  of  the  Splendor 
or  Vanity  of  his  Court ;  which  is  soe  singular  a  Note  in 
her  sex,  and  of  one  naturally  soe  curious  and  observeing, 
that  I  cannot  pass  it  over  without  a  just  remarke,  es- 
pecially being  a  Lady  soe  infinitely  compleasant,  and 
of  a  nature  soe  obligeing,  Mistress  alsoe  of  the  French 
Tongue  to  such  perfection,  as  rendered  her  capable  of 
entertaining  Persons  of  the  highest  quality,  nor  was  this 
reservdness  out  of  humour  or  singularity.  She  now 
considers  her  selfe  a  marryed  Woman,  and  tho'  she 
went  over  to  accompany  my  Lady,  there  was  no  ne- 
cessity for  her  to  appeare  att  Court,  where  the  virtues  of 
strangers  did  not  allways  protect  the  Sex  from  Incon- 
veniencyes ;  and  she  was  resolv'd  to  give  no  occasion 
to  be  talk'd  of  or  admir'd.  All  the  Tyme  she  could  re- 
deeme  from  those  Civilityes  she  owed  my  Lady,  and 
which  now  begun  to  be  very  tedious  to  one  whose 
Heart  was  in  another  Country,  she  spent  in  Devotion, 
reading  excellent  Bookes,  and  converseing  with  some 
few  of  her  Accquaintance,  butt  without  gratifyeing  her 
curiosity  by  goeing  out  to  see  the  many  rarityes  which 
the  famous  Citty  she  was  in  invites  all  strangers  to,  vn- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  65 


less  it  were  that  of  her  goeing  one  afternoone  to  a 
Cloyster  of  Nuns  ;  whose  manner  of  hveing  did  not 
displease  her,  whilst  nothing  of  their  Superstition  could 
endanger  one  soe  well  principled  in  her  Religion.  1 
will  give  your  Ladyshipp  a  transcript  of  the  first 
Letter  sent  me  after  her  arrival  att  Paris,  to  comfirme  it. 

"My  Friend,  I  promised  you  an  Account  of  our 
Journey  hither  ;  there  was  nothing  in  it  of  exterordnar)^, 
no  ill  accident,  nothing  like  Pintos  Travells.  Since  I 
came  to  Paris,  I  have  hardly  been  out  of  doores  to  visit 
any  body,  butt  there  has  been  a  Preist  to  visitt  me ; 
butt  without  Vanity  I  think  I  said  as  much  for  my 
Opinion  as  he  did  for  his.  I  am  now  reading  Moun- 
sieur  Clauds  Defence  de  la  Reformation,  and  like  it 
most  exceedingly ;  soe  as  you  need  have  noe  fear  of  me 
on  that  side.  God  knows,  the  more  one  sees  of  their 
Church,  the  more  one  finds  to  dislike  in  itt ;  I  did  not 
imagine  the  tenth  part  of  the  Superstition  I  find  in  it, 
yett  still  could  approve  of  their  Orders.  Their  Nun- 
neryes  seem  to  be  holy  Institutions,  if  they  are  abused 
'tis  not  their  fault :  what  is  not  perverted  ?  Marriage 
itt  selfe  is  become  a  snare,  and  People  seem  to  dispose 
of  their  Children  young,  lest  the  remedy  increase  the 
dissease  :  butt  when  I  have  commended  that  baile  of 
theirs,  I  have  said  for  them,  I  think,  all  that  reasonably 
can  be  said.  One  thing  I  must  tell  you,  Friend,  Peo- 
ple can  have  the  Spleens  here  in  Paris,  lett  them  say 
what  they  will  of  the  Aire  ;  butt  if  Arilhmetick  will 
cure  itt,  I  am  goeing  with  my  Charge,  your  Son,  to  be 
a  very  hard  Student,  and  wee  intend  to  be  very  wise." 


66  THE    LIFE    OF 


I  present  you,  Madam,  with  this  Fragment  of  a 
Letter,  to  shew  your  Ladyshipp  how  she  spent  her 
Tyme,  when  she  could  redeeme  it  from  Complyances 
with  the  Company,  and  the  Decencyes  of  such  Yisitts  as 
were  not  to  be  resisted  where  Persons  of  Gluahtye  came 
to  see  her  ;  butt  of  which  she  grew  soe  weary  att  last 
— and  for  another  reason  you  may  conjecture, — as  with- 
in a  Month  or  two  of  her  arrivall,  this  excellent  Crea- 
ture was  quite  sick  of  France. 

"  I  am  weary,"  says  she,  in  another  Letter  to  me  of 
the  4th  of  February,  "  of  my  Life,  I  have  here  no  tyme 
for  my  Soule.  Cards  wee  play  att  four  Houres  every 
Day  ;  whoever  comes  to  visitt,  I  must  be  by  to  inter- 
prett ;  where  ever  a  certaine  Lady  goes  (if  my  Lady 
H.  be  not  att  hand),  I  must  trudge  ;  soe  that  poore  I 
can  scarce  say  my  Prayers,  and  seldome  or  never  read. 
Dear  Friend,  pray  hearty ly,  that  if  it  be  Gods  will,  I 
may  be  restor'd  to  my  owne  People,  and  to  my  God ; 
for  tho'  he  be  every  where  I  cannott  call  vpon  him  as 
I  was  wont  att  home :  therefore  for  God's  sake  pray 
that  I  may  speedily  and  once  again  worshipp  him  in 
his  Congregation,  and  enjoy  the  assistance  of  his  Grace, 
the  presence  of  my  best  Friends,  whom  as  my  Life  I 
love.  I  could  content  my  selfe  with  any  thing,  I  think, 
were  I  once  at  home.  Butt  I  must  doe  nothing  rashly  ; 
I  hope  yett  in  God  through  your  Prayers,  and  my  owne 
firme  Resolutions,  to  gett  home  assoone  as  ever  I  can, 
being  quite  wearyed  with  dedicateing  my  selfe  perpet- 
ually to  other  People.  'Tis  almost  one  a  Clock  ere  I 
can  gett  to  Bedd.  soe  that  in  the  Morning  I  am  not  able 
to  rise  before  Eight,  and  passing  then  an  Hour  in  Prayer 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  67 


and  Psalmes,  and  an  Houre  and  a  halfe  in  reading, 
sometymes  one  Booke,  sonietjmies  another,  by  the  tyme 
I  am  dress'd  PubUque  Prayers  begin  ;  then  follows  Din- 
ner, then  Talk  till  3,  then  goe  to  Publick  Prayers,  then 
prate  againe,  God  knows  till  Six  a  Clock,  and  then  with 
much  difficulty  gett  away  to  pray,  for  my  selfe,  for  you, 
and  some  other,  then  am  I  call'd  to  Cards  till  Bed  tyme. 
O  pittye,  pittye  me,  dear  Friend !" 

I  shall  need  repeate  noe  more  of  her  sad  laments ; 
diverse  have  I  by  me,  and  yet  it  was  still  more  for  this 
interruption  of  her  assiduous  course  and  devotion  than 
for  any  other  consideration.  She  lookes  vpon  it  as  an 
Exile  from  the  House  of  God,  which  like  holy  David, 
was  to  her  intoUerable.  Even  amongst  the  circum- 
stances of  splendor,  ease,  and  worldly  diversion,  she  had 
been  made  beleive  she  should  be  as  much  Mistress  of 
her  retirements  att  Paris  as  she  was  wont  to  be  att 
Berkley  House :  tho'  neither  there  was  she  att  the  Lib- 
erty she  breath'd  after.  Devotion,  and  Solitude,  and  Lea- 
sure  for  the  improvement  of  her  Mind.  Butt  this 
Affliction  did  not  last,  for  vpon  my  Lord  Ambassadors 
prepareing  to  goe  to  Nimoghen,  and  a  reall  pretence  of 
an  Affaire  that  concern'd  her,  namely,  the  disposeing  of 
a  considerable  summe  of  mony  intrusted  with  me.  she 
decently  tooke  the  oppertunitye  of  Mr.  Bernard  Green- 
vile  returneing  out  of  Italy,  (whither  he  had  been  sent 
with  a  Publique  Character  to  the  great  Duke  of  Tus- 
cany) and  passing  through  Paris,  of  being  conducted 
by  that  honorable  and  worthy  Gentleman,  without 
those  difficultyes  she  might  otherwise  have  met  with  ; 
nor  doubt  I  butt  my  Lady  Berkley,  who  was  privy  to 


68  THE    LIFE    OF 


her  being  marryed,  and  had  now  another  Lady  with 
her,  less  scrupulous  and  more  diverting,  was  the  easier 
wrought  on  to  part  with  one  she  could  suffer  to  be  sup- 
planted by  another,  after  such  professions  of  the  most 
superlative  Friendship  and  Indearments  in  the  World, 
and  which,  I  am  certaine,  contributed  not  a  little  to 
what  afflicted  this  tender  and  good  natured  Creature. 

Mrs.  Godolphin  (for  soe  now  I  call  her)  haveing  thus 
taken  leave  of  Paris,  arrived  att  Dover  the  3d  of  Aprill, 
in  which  interim  I  had  by  her  direction  order'd  her 
Accomodations  to  be  remov'd  from  Berkley  House  to 
Doctor  Warnetts  in  Covent  Garden,  whose  wife  was 
her  near  relation.  Soe  on  the  Sixth  of  Aprill  she  gave 
me  notice  of  her  being  come  to  London,  where  the 
next  Day  I  waited  on  her,  to  the  no  small  Joy,  you  may 
be  sure,  of  all  her  Friends,  as  well  as  of  my  selfe.  I 
will  not  repeate  to  your  Ladyshipp  what  had  all  ready 
pass'd  betweene  vs  in  friendly  expostulations,  for  the 
vnkindness  of  her  soe  long  concealing  from  me  the  cir- 
cumstance of  her  Marriage,  because  she  had  express'd 
her  Sorrow  with  such  an  asseveration  as  in  my  whole 
Life  before  I  never  heard  her  vtter,  soe  as  I  could  not 
but  forgive  her  heartyly.  Nor  did  this  suffice,  for  she 
often  acknowledg'd  her  fault,  and  beg'd  of  me  that  I 
would  not  diminish  ought  of  my  good  Opinion  of  her, 
to  the  least  wounding  the  intire  Freindshipp  which 
was  betweene  vs  ;  protesting  she  had  been  soe  afflicted 
in  her  selfe  for  it,  that  were  it  to  doe  againe,  noe  con- 
sideration or  complyance  in  the  World  should  have 
prevailed  on  her  to  break  her  Promise,  as  some  had 
done  to  her  regrett.     In  good  earnest  I  was  sorry  to  see 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  69 


her  troubled  for  it,  considering  the  Empire  of  a  pas- 
sionate Love,  the  singular  and  silent  way  of  the  Lover, 
whose  gravitye  and  temper  you  know  soe  well,  and 
with  whome  I  had  nothing  of  that  intimacy  and  in- 
dear'd  Friendshipp,  which  might  intitle  me  to  the  Con- 
fidence he  has  since  not  thought  me  vnworthy  of.  I 
therefore  mention  this  passage,  because  she  was  a  Per- 
son of  soe  exact  and  nice  a  Conscience,  that  for  all  the 
World  she  would  not  have  violated  her  Promise  ;  nor 
did  I  ever  find  it  in  the  least  save  this,  which,  when 
all  is  done,  was  of  noe  great  importance.  Save  that  I 
tooke  it  a  little  to  heart  she  should  soe  industriously  con- 
ceale  a  thing  from  one  to  whome  she  had  all  along 
comunicated  her  most  intimate  thoughts ;  and  when 
that  affection  of  hers  was  placed,  which  she  would  of- 
ten acknowledge  was  not  possible  for  her  to  moderate 
as  she  desir'd,  or  bring  to  the  least  indifference,  after  all 
her  innocent  stratagems  and  endeavours,  and  even 
sometymes  resolutions,  to  quitt  all  the  World,  and  think 
of  him  only  in  her  Prayers. 

This  scene  being  thus  over,  to  my  great  satisfac- 
tion, and,  as  vpon  all  occasions  I  advised,  when  those 
melancholy  thoughts  and  fancyes  vs'd  to  interrupt  her 
quiett,  wee  will  looke  vpon  this  Lady  now,  as  a  setled 
Woman,  and  in  the  Armes  of  that  excellent  Person  the 
most  worthy  to  possess  her.  Itt  was  on  the  13th  of 
Aprill  that  she  did  me  the  honour  of  a  visitt  att  my 
house,  expressing  infinite  acknowledgments  to  Al- 
mighty Grod  for  his  goodness  to  her,  after  a  most  sol- 
emn manner,  and  that  once  againe  she  was  come 
among  her  friends,  beging  of  me,  that  I  would  continue 


70  THE    LIFE    OF 


to  assist  her  with  those  Httle  services  she  was  pleased 
to  accept.  And  now  haveing  thought  fitt  to  make 
their  marriage  noe  longer  a  secrett, — for  she  had  not 
yett,  I  think,  revealed  it  to  her  sister,  nor  did  his  Ma- 
jestye  or  Court,  know  any  thing  of  it,  till  she  was  in 
Equipage  to  appeare  as  became  her — she  obtained  of 
the  Q^ueen  a  considerable  augmentation  of  a  Lease  she 
had  of  certaine  Lands  in  Spalding,  about  which  she  was 
pleased  to  make  vse  of  my  assistance,  for  the  settlement 
of  it.  This  was  in  May,  and  by  the  next  month  she 
had  furnish'd  and  formed  her  pretty  family  att  Berkley 
house,  whether  on  the  27th  of  June,  she  removed  out 
of  Covent  Garden,  and  began  to  receive  the  visitts  and 
vsuall  Congratulations  vpon  Marriages,  soe  vniversally 
approved  of. 

Dureing  this,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  secure  a 
considerable  summe  due  to  her,  which  lay  in  some 
danger.  V.  in  September  began  to  build  and  accom- 
modate that  pretty  habitation  for  her  in  Scotland  yard, 
which  she  contrived  and  adorn'd  with  soe  much  Inge- 
nuity and  decency ;  and  where  your  Ladyshipp  and 
all  who  knew  and  lov'd  that  excellent  creature,  have 
been  soe  chearfull,  soe  happy,  and  so  vnhappy,  that  I 
never  can  pass  or  think  vpon  the  place  butt  a  thou- 
sand sad  thoughts  aifect  me. 

tt  was  dureing  the  fitting  of  that  Lodging,  that  she 
came  downe  to  vs  att  Sayes  Court  againe,  and  blessed 
the  little  apartment  you  know,  with  her  presence,  from 
the  28th  of  September,  to  the  19th  of  October,  her  hus- 
band then  being  att  Newmarkett  with  his  Majesty; 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  71 


nor  can  your  Laclyshipp  forgett  how  sweetly  she  liv'd 
in  their  retirement  all  this  winter,  till  hearing  of  my  Lord 
Berkleys  retnrne  from  his  Embassy,  she  thought  fitt  to 
remove  to  her  own  Lodgings,  now  finished  att  White- 
hall for  alltogeather  ;  which  accordingly  she  did  on  ths 
last  of  March,  settling  with  that  pretty  and  discreete 
oeconomye  soe  naturall  to  her ;  and  never  was  there 
such  an  household  of  faith,  never  Lady  more  worthy 
of  the  blessings  she  was  entering  into,  who  was  soe 
thankfuU  to  God  for  them. 

*'  Lord,"  (says  she,  in  a  Letter  to  me)  "  when  I  this 
day  considered  my  happy ness,  in  haveing  soe  perfect 
health  of  body,  chearfullness  of  mind,  noe  disturbance 
from  without,  nor  griefe  within,  my  tyme  my  owne, 
my  house  quiett  sweete  and  pretty,  all  manner  of  Con- 
veniencys  for  serving  God,  in  publick  and  private,  how 
happy  in  my  Friends,  Husband,  Relations,  Servants, 
Creditt,  and  none  to  waite  or  attend  on,  but  my  dear 
and  beloved  God,  from  whome  I  receive  all  this,  what 
ft  melting  joy  run  through  me  att  the  thoughts  of  all 
these  mercyes,  and  how  did  I  think  myselfe  obliged  to 
goe  to  the  foote  of -my  Redeemer,  and  acknowledge  my 
owne  vnworthiness  of  his  favour :  butt  then  what 
words  was  I  to  make  vse  of;  truely  att  first  of  none  att 
all,  but  a  devout  silence  did  speak  for  me ;  but  after 
that  I  power'd  out  my  prayers,  and  was  in  an  amaze- 
ment that  there  should  be  such  a  sin  as  ingratitude,  in 
the  world,  and  that  any  should  neglect  this  great  duty  ; 
butt  why  doe  I  say  all  this  to  you  my  friend  ?  truely 
that  out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart,  the  mouth 
speaketh,  and  I  am  still  soe  full  of  it,  that  I  cannot  for- 
beare  expressing  my  thoughts  to  you." 


12  THE    LIFE    OF 


And  that  this  was  not  a  transient  rapture,  vpon  the 
sence  of  her  present  Enjoyment,  butt  a  permanent  and 
devout  affection  ;  vpon  the  16th  day  of  October  follow- 
ing, which  day  she  constantly  vsed  to  give  me  an  ac- 
count of  her  concerns  the  year  past,  I  find  this  passage 
in  a  Letter. 

"  God  AUmighty  has  been  Infinitely  gratious  to  me 
this  year,  for  he  has  brought  me  back  into  my  owne 
native  Country  in  safety,  and  honourably  prospered  me 
in  my  temporall  affaires ;  above  my  expectation  con- 
tinued my  health,  and  my  friends  ;  deliver'd  me  from 
the  torments  of  suspence  ;  given  me  a  husband  that 
above  all  men  living  I  valine  ;  in  a  word,  I  have  little 
to  wish  butt  a  Child,  and  to  contribute  something  to  my 
friends  happy ness,  which  I  most  impatiently  desire; 
and  then  I  must  think  before  I  can  remember,  what  I 
would  have  more  then  I  enjoy  in  this  world,  butt  the 
continuance  of  a  thankfuU  heart  to  my  God." 

This,  Madam,  was  the  vse  and  the  gratefull  returne 
she  made  of  the  short  blessings  she  enjoyed.  Nor  need 
I  accquaint  your  Ladyshipp,  with  what  care  she  in- 
structed her  servants,  how  sedulously  she  kept  her 
family  to  Religious  dutyes,  how  decently  she  received 
her  friends,  how  profitably  she  imployed  every  mo- 
ment of  tyme.  Nothing  in  this  world  had  she  more  to 
wish,  butt  what  God  soone  after  gave  her,  that  she  might 
be  Mother  of  a  Child  ;  which  she  soe  passionately  de- 
sir'd  after  two  yeares  that  she  yett  had  none,  as  in  the 
intervall  she  tooke  home  to  her,  a  poore  orphan  girle, 
whome  she  tended,  instructed  and  cherished,  with  the 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  73 


tenderness  of  a  naturall  mother.     For  I  have  beheld 
when  she  dress'd  and  midress'd  it,  and  laid  it  to  sleep 
with  all  the  circumstances  of  a  carefull  Mother  and 
nurse ;  till  it  pleased  God  to  give  her  certaine  hopes  of 
the  blessing  she  thought  onely  wanting  to  consumate 
her    happyness.     Nor    did  (as  your  Ladyshipp  well 
knows)   any  Inconveniency   of  that   burthen,  at    all 
slacken    her    devout    course,  but  improve  it   rather  ; 
when  to  other  considerable  Charityes  a  little  before  she 
was  brought  to  bedd.  she  sent  me  £.70  to  distribute  ; 
by  which  were  releived   many  indigent  people   and 
poore  house  keepers  ;  and  this  was  her  owne  entirely, 
for  her  excellent  husband  had  the  year  before  settled 
on  her,  not  onely  the  product,  but  absolute  disposall  of 
the  portion  which  she  brought,  to  above  £.4000,  for  the 
irreversible  continuance  thereof,  they  were  pleased  to 
intrust  me  to  manage  the  Stock,  soe  as  now  haveing 
still  wherewithall  to  inlarge  her  Charitye,  without  pre- 
judice ;  there  was  indeed  nothing  wanting  which  she 
desired  more  in  the  world,  as  often  she  would  repeate 
it  to  me,  butt  the  life  of  that  Dear  Man,  for  soe  she 
called  her  husband,  for  whome  she  had  now  and  then 
much  apprehension,  subject  as  he  was  to  fevors  that 
had  formerly  endangered  him,  not  in  the  least  forebode- 
ing  her  owne  departure,  and  leaveing  him  behind  her ; 
tho'  vpon  a  dreame  of  myne  I  once  related  to  her  some 
yeares  before,  she  affirmed  with  much  earnestness  that 
she   should  certainely  dye   before   me :  which  tho'  I 
tooke  little  notice  of  then,  and  believed  nothing  less,  I 
cannot  but  since  reflect  vpon  ;  especially  when  I  call 
to  mind,  the  order  she  gave  the  painter,  that  in  the 
picture  she  some  years  shice  bestowed  vpon  me,  she 

5 


74  THE    LIFE    OF 


would  be  drawne  in  a  lugubrous  posture,  silting  vpon 
a  Tomb  stone  adorned  with  a  Sepulcher  Yrne ;  nor 
was  this  att  all  my  fancy,  butt  her  express  desire. 
Butt  to  lay  noe  more  stress  on  this,  how  frequently 
have  I  heard  her  say,  she  lov'd  to  be  in  the  house  of 
Mourning.  Nor  does  your  Ladyshipp  forgett  how  a 
few  dayes  before  her  Reckoning  was  out,  my  Lady 
Viscountess  Mordant  giveing  her  a  visitt,  and  finding 
her  eyes  swollen  with  teares,  she  told  her  she  had 
being  doeing  a  sad,  yett  to  her  a  pleasing  thing,  and 
that  was  the  writeing  something  to  her  husband  which 
she  requested  he  would  doe  for  her,  if  she  should  dye 
of  that  Child ;  and  then  added  the  great  Comfort  and 
satisfaction  it  was  to  her,  that  she  had  putt  her  little 
concerns  in  order,  and  otherwise  made  preparations 
against  all  surprizes,  and  was  perfectly  resign'd. 
This  discourse  for  the  present  drew  mutuall  Tears, 
but  abated  nothing  of  her  wonted  chearfullness  :  when 
on  the  fifteenth  of  May,  which  was  the  Anniversary  ot 
her  marriage,  she  with  your  Ladyshipp  and  sister  Gr. 
honour'd  my  poore  house  with  a  visitt,  (the  last  she  ever 
gave  me,  and  therefore  not  to  be  forgotten)  the  perfect 
good  humour  she  then  was  in  renders  the  memory  of 
it  sad,  as  well  as  that  she  was  in  the  July  after,  when 
wee  all  went  with  her  to  Mr.  Ashmoles  att  Lambath 
who  diverted  her  with  many  curiosityes :  butt  after 
this,  growing  bigger,  she  rarely  stirr'd  abroad,  save  to 
the  Chappell.  Itt  was  yett  againe  on  the  fourth  of 
August,  that  my  Lady  Mordant  and  my  wife  (by  as- 
signation betweene  them)  went  to  dyne  with  her  att 
her  pretty  appartment,  they  found  her  well,  but  some- 
thing more  then  vsually  solemne ;  she  had  it  seemes 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  75 


been  reading  and  sorting  of  papers  and  Letters,  and 
how,  sayes  she,  is  it  possible  to  think  of  ones  friends 
wee  are  to  leave  behind,  without  concernment ;  with 
discourse  to  this  purpose.     This  more  then  ordinary- 
Impulse,  that  she  should  not  outlive  the  happiness  she 
had  soe  long  wished  for,  made  the  Conversation  less 
gay  and  chearfull  then  otherwise  it  was  wont  to  be, 
and  it  seemes  to  me,  she  had  some  apprehensions  ex- 
terordinary,  which  were  not   discern'd  by  any  of  her 
friends ;  when  often  wishing  that  she  might,  if  soe  it 
pleas'd  God,  bring  her  husband  one  Child,  and  leave 
him  that  pledge  of  her  intire  affection.     She  seemed  to 
thirst  after  nothing  more  than  to  be  with  God  ;  and 
veryly  what  estimate  she  tooke  of  these  poore  satisfac- 
tions here,  when  I  have  sometymes  reflected  on  the 
circumstances  of  her  youth  and  chearfull  temper,  with 
the  prospect  of   as  much  worldly  happyness  as  she 
could  desire,  I  have  extreamly  wonder'd  att  her  con- 
tempt of  it,  finding  likewise  that  it  did  not  proceed 
from  any  peevish  discontent  or  singularitye  of  humour, 
butt  from  a  philosophical!,  wise  and  pious  considera- 
tion of  the  vicissitude  and  instabilitye  of  all  earthly 
fruitions,  and    an  ardent   longing  after  that   glorious 
state,  where  (said  she)  I  shall  be  perfectly  att  repose, 
and  sin  no  more.     And  that  these  were  almost  her  con- 
tinuall  thoughts  and  aspirations,  see  how  she  enter- 
taines  me,  in  a  postcript  about  the  very  tyme. 

"Lett  vs  pray,  that  Gods  Kingdome  of  Grace  being 
received  into  our  hearts,  his  Kingdome  of  Glory  may 
succeed,  and  soe  wee  ever  be  with  the  Lord ;  which 
indeed  I  long  for,  more  then  all  the  satisfactions  of  this 


76  THE    LIFE    OF 


world  ;  really  Friend  there's  nothing  in  it  to  be  chosen 
for  itselfe.  Is  not  eating  to  satisfye  the  paine  of  hunger, 
sleepe  to  ease  our  wearyness,  and  other  divertisements 
to  take  off  the  mind  from  being  too  intent  on  things 
that  it  cannot  allwayes  support  without  great  inconve- 
niency  to  its  facultyes  ?  Retirement  againe  is  to  dis- 
charge it  of  that  burthen,  and  the  staines  it  has  con- 
tracted by  being  in  conversation,  and  impertinent  Com- 
pany ;  soe  that  vpon  the  matter,  our  intire  hfe  is  in  my 
opinion,  an  inquiry  after  remedyes,  which  doe  often  if 
not  allways  exchange  rather  than  cure  our  infirmityes  ; 
I  acknowledge  that  God  has  imparted  to  me  many 
great  blessings,  which  if  our  nature  were  not  sadly  de- 
prav'd,  wee  might  exceedingly  rejoyce  in,  butt  wee 
make  soe  ill  vse  of  most  of  them,  that  wee  turne  those 
things  to  mischeifes,  which  are  given  to  vs  for  our  good 
&c."  In  this  style  she  goes  on,  and  could  a  Seneca,  or 
an  Antoninus,  or  indeed  the  wisest  and  holyest  person 
have  vttered  [aught]  more  divine  and  piously  serious  : 
nor  did  she  say  this  only,  butt  she  practis'd  it :  for  with 
what  devout  and  solemne  preparations  pass'd  the  rest 
of  this  fatall  month !  Haveing  received  the  blessed 
sacrament  butt  two  dayes  before  she  was  brought  to 
bedd,  soe  preventing  all  possible  surprizes,  and  waiteing 
now  with  her  Avonted  alacritye  and  resignation  the  ap- 
proach of  the  conflict  she  was  to  enter  vpon,  she  on 
the  second  of  September,  began  first  to  be  sensible  of 
some  alteration  in  her  temper,  and  dureing  that  night 
it  was  concluded  it  might  be  her  labour,  and  soe  it  was. 
With  what  exceeding  patience,  devotion,  and  courage 
she  sustain'd  it,  your  Ladyshipp,  who  was  all  the  tyme 
assisting,  with  both  those  excellent  sisters,  can  best  tell. 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  77 


Itt  was  then  on  Tuesday  the  third  of  that  vnfortu- 
nate  Month,  when  comeing  about  11  a  clock  in  the 
forenoone  as  my  custome  was,  to  visitt  her  and  ask  of 
her  heaUh,  that  I  found  she  was  in  Travell ;  and  you 
may  easyly  imagine  how  extreamly  I  was  concern'd, 
not  to  stirr  from  the  house  till  I  had  some  assureance 
that  all  succeeded  Avell.  And  indeed  to  all  appearance 
soe  it  did.  For  it  pleas'd  God  that  within  an  hour, 
your  Ladyshipp  brought  me  the  joyfull  tydeings  of  a 
Man  Child  born  into  the  world,  and  a  very  little  after 
admitted  me  to  see  and  bless  that  lovely  Babe  by  the 
Mothers  side ;  when  the  very  first  word  she  spake  to 
me  was,  I  hope  you  have  given  thanks  to  God  for  his 
infinite  mercy  to  me  ;  O  with  what  satisfaction,  with 
what  joy  and  over  rapture  did  I  hear  her  pronounce  it, 
with  what  satisfaction  and  pleasure  did  I  see  the  Mother 
safe,  and  her  desire  accomplished,  without  any  accident 
that  could  give  the  least  vmbrage  or  suspicion  of  ap- 
proaching danger,  soe  as  me  thought  of  nothing  more 
than  rejoyceing  and  praiseing  God,  augureing  a  thou- 
sand benedictions. 

In  this  faire  and  hopefull  condition  she  continued 
all  that  day,  when  her  husband,  now  att  Windsor  with 
the  Court,  being  sent  for  to  come  to  double  and  com- 
pleat  the  Joy,  upon  the  Thursday  following,  his  little 
Son  was  made  a  Christian,  [his  name  Francis]  in  pre- 
sence of  both  the  parents ;  his  Ynkle  Sir  William  Go- 
dolphyn,  Mr.  Harvey,  Treasurer  to  her  Majestye,  and 
Lady  Berkley  being  susceptors ;  the  Chaplaines  who 
constantly  vsed  to  say  prayers  in  the  family  performe- 
ing  the  office. 


78  THE    LIFE    OF 


Seeing  this  dear  Lady  soe  well  layd,  the  Child  bap- 
tized, and  every  thing  in  a  hopefull  way,  my  wife,  who 
was  now  to  visitt  her,  and  I,  return'd  home,  as  full  of 
joy  and  satisfaction  as  wee  could  be,  for  the  best  and 
most  estimable  friend  wee  had  in  the  world  ;  butt  ah, 
how  were  wee  both  surprized,  when  on  the  Sunday 
following  there  was  a  Letter  delivered  me  in  the  Church, 
about  the  latter  end  of  the  Morning  Sermon,  in  this 
dolefuU  style. 

"  My  poore  wife  is  fallen  very  ill  of  a  ffevor,  with 
hghtness  in  her  head.  You  know  who  sayes  the 
prayer  of  the  faithfull  shall  save  the  sick ;  I  humbly 
begg  your  charitable  prayers,  for  this  poore  creature 
and  your  distracted  servant.  London  :  Saturday,  9  a 
clock." 

O  how  was  I  struck  through,  as  with  a  dart.  I  am 
not  able  to  tell  your  Ladyshipp  with  how  sad  and  ap- 
prehensive thoughts  my  wife  and  I  hastned  imediately 
to  Whitehall ;  where  wee  found  her  in  all  the  circum- 
stances of  danger ;  and  tho'  distinctly  knowing  those 
who  came  to  visitt  and  were  about  her,  yett  had  the 
distemper  allready  soe  farr  prevailed  on  her  spiritts,  that 
it  was  a  sad  and  mournfuU  thing  to  find  how  her  fancy 
and  vsuall  temper  was  disorder'd.  To  all  this,  the 
season  happen'd  to  prove  excessively  hott,  which  ex- 
ceedingly contributed  to  her  suffering.  There  had 
been,  when  I  came,  butt  one  physitian  sent  for ;  butt 
my  wife,  suspecting  (with  others)  that  this  violent  sur- 
prize could  not  likely  proceed  from  either  the  intem- 
perance of  the  weather  or  impaire  of  one,  soe  well  laid 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  79 


as  to  all  appearance  as  she  was,  butt  possibly  from  ac- 
cident, itt  was  thought  advisable  to  call  an  experienc'd 
person  in  cases  of  this  nature.  Butt  itt  was  soe  very- 
long  ere  the  doctor  could  be  found,  and  soe  late  ere  he 
came,  that  through  the  frequency  and  violence  of  her 
fitts,  which  were  now  delirious,  her  spiritts  were  soe 
farr  wasted,  that  tho'  he  were  of  the  same  opinion,  and 
that  something  was  omitted,  yett  would  he  by  no  in- 
treaty  be  pers waded  to  apply  any  thing  but  in  conjunc- 
tion with  other  phisityans.  Doctor  Lowther  being 
call'd  away  some  houres  before,  and  besides  it  being 
now  farr  in  the  night,  itt  was  with  exterordinary  difi- 
culty  that  I  gott  my  antient  dear  and  religious  friend, 
Doctor  Needham,  since  with  God,  and  then  but  valetu- 
dinary e  himselfe,  to  come.  Others  who  were  sent  for, 
wearyed  as  they  pretended  with  toyle,  would  not  be  pre- 
vailed with  to  rise,  except  Doctor  Short ;  soe  as  till  now, 
there  had  been  little  attempted  ;  nor  any  thing  even  by 
these  with  any  assureance,  so  farr  she  was  spent,  and 
her  condition  not  admitting  of  proper  remedyes  for 
what  they  feared,  gave  slender  hopes  of  success.  The 
Deliriums  increase,  and  allbeit  with  some  promise  and 
intermissions,  to  appearance,  yett  were  they  only  such 
as  proceeded  from  languor  and  tiredness  ;  soe  that  tho' 
she  still  retained  her  memory  of  the  persons  about  her, 
what  she  said  was  altogeather  inconsistent,  and  grow- 
ing more  impetuous  and  deplorable,  gave  presage  of 
uttmost  danger.  This  only  was  highly  remarkeable, 
that  in  all  this  disorder  of  fancy  and  allmost  distraction, 
she  vttered  not  one  syllable  or  expression  that  might  in 
the  least  offend  God,  or  any  creature  about  her ;  a  thing 
which  dureing  these  alienations  of  mind  does  seldome 


so  THE    LIFE    OF 


happen  ;  bntt  which  shewed  how  blessed  a  thing  it  was 
to  live  holylye  and  carefully,  as  this  Innocent  did  ; 
persons  that  are  delirious  vsually  vttering  extra vigan- 
cyes  that  discover  their  worst  inclinations.  Butt  she 
was  now  in  a  manner  spent,  and  no't  could  physitians 
doe,  when  neither  the  cupping  nor  the  pidgeons,  those 
last  of  remedies,  wrought  any  effect.  Other  things  had 
been  perhapps  convenient ;  butt  there  was  noe  strength 
to  bear  inward  remedyes,  when  even  the  most  gentle 
had  been  fatall ;  and  there  now  appearing  a  kind  of 
Erisypulus  on  her  back,  neck,  and  amies,  the  mahg- 
nancy  grew  desperate, — and  this  excellent  Creature 
passes  a  fiery  Triall,  exercised  in  all  the  circumstances 
of  paine  and  wearyness.  Wee  beheld  her  now  lan- 
guishing vnder  the  last  conflicts  till  the  morning  of  the 
next  day.  There  had  been,  your  Ladyshipp  knows,  a 
consultation  the  night  before,  and  a  resolution  of  at- 
tempting searching  att  a  venture,  if  she  lived  till  day, 
and  the  rather  that  the  physitians  might  not  seeme  to 
doe  nothing  in  a  desperate  case,  than  expecting  any 
good  effect  without  a  miracle.  Butt  when  the  morning 
came,  finding  her  still  more  debilitated,  and  the  parox- 
ysmes  impetuous  and  allmost  vncessant,  all  hopes 
being  given  over,  vpon  the  importunitye  and  recomen- 
dation  of  that  excellent  and  pious  lady,  the  Viscountess 
Mordant,  they  permitted  one  Doctor  Ffaber  to  make 
tryall  of  a  Cordiall,  celebrated  by  her  Ladyshipp  for 
the  great  matter  it  had  performed,  and  indeed  it  seem'd 
att  first  to  compose  her,  and  somewhat  allay  the  vio- 
lence of  her  fitts.  Butt  the  moments  were  short,  and 
her  conflict  is  repeated  with  the  vsuall  violence ;  till 
she  who  was  wont  to  raise  her  selfe  vp  as  oft  as  they 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  81 


came,  now  sinkes  downe  as  no  more  able  to  sustaine 
them  :  her  spiritts  faint :  till  no  more  pulse  perceivable, 
— for  your  Ladyshipp  and  I  held  her  all  this  while  by 
the  hands, — with  the  most  ardent  prayers  and  offices  of 
the  holy  Man,  who  continually  attended,  he  earnestly, 
and  wee  all  devoutly  recomend,  and  she  quietly  renders 
vp  her  happy  soule  to  her  blessed  Redeemer,  in  whose 
bosome  she  is  now  deliver'd  from  all  earthly  miseryes, 
and  assumed  into  those  blissfuU  Mansions  prepared  for 
his  Saints,  and  such  as  like  her  excellent  in  virtue. 

Thus  ended  this  incomparable  Lady  :  our  never  to 
be  sufficiently  lamented  losse  :  leaveing  not  only  a  dis- 
consolate husband,  whose  vnexpressible  griefe  and 
deep  affliction  would  hardly  suffer  him  to  be  a  spec- 
tator of  her  languishments,  drown'd  in  tears  and  pros- 
trate att  the  mercy  seate,  butt  all  her  Relations,  and 
who  had  the  honour  to  know  her  in  as  much  reall  and 
pungent  sorrow  as  Christians  and  tender  hearts  were 
capable  to  express,  and  as  was  highly  due  for  soe  sen- 
cible  and  vniversall  a  loss,  and  soe  infinitely  deplor"d. 

This  fatall  houre  was  (your  Ladyshipp  knows) 
about  one  o'clock,  att  noone  on  the  Munday,  Septem- 
ber the  nineth,  167S,  in  the  25  year  and  prime  of 
her  age.  O  vnparalell'd  loss  !  O  griefe  indicible  !  By 
me  never  to  be  forgotten — never  to  be  overcome  !  Nor 
pass  I  the  sad  anniversary  and  lugubruous  period, 
without  the  most  sencible  emotions,  sorrow  that  draws 
tears  from  my  very  heart  whilst  I  am  reciteing  it. 

Butt  thus  she  pass'd  to  a  better  World,  when  only 

5* 


82  THE    LIFE    OF 


worthy  of  her,  when  as  if  presageing  what  was  att 
hand,  she  that  very  day  seavenight  (as  I  noted)  fur- 
nish'd  herselfe  with  the  heavenly  Viaticum,  after  an 
extordinary  preparation,  preventing  the  possible  dissad- 
vantages  of  what  might  surprize  her  spiritts  and  dis- 
order her  recollection  with  a  most  pious  and  heavenly 
address.  Nor  was  this  taken  notice  of  onely  by  those 
■\vho  were  witnesses  of  it  some  dayes  before  she  was 
brought  to  bedd,  but  signally  appeared  in  that  paper 
which  she  had  left  in  the  hands  of  her  indear'd  Sister 
in  law  Mistress  Boscawen,  to  deliver  her  Husband,  in 
case  of  mortall  accident,  which  soe  soone  as  it  was 
possible  to  compose  his  and  the  vniversall  grief  to  any 
temper,  was  perform'd. 

"My  deare,  not  knowing  how  God  Allmighty  may 
deale  with  me,  I  think  it  my  best  course  to  settle  my 
aftaires,  soe  as  that,  in  case  I  be  to  leave  this  world, 
noe  earthly  thing  may  take  vp  my  thoughts.  In  the 
first  place,  my  dear,  beleive  me,  that  of  all  earthly 
things  you  were  and  are  the  most  dear  to  me ;  and  I 
am  convinced  that  nobody  ever  had  a  better  or  halfe 
soe  good  a  husband.  I  begg  your  pardon  for  all  my 
Imperfections,  which  I  am  sencible  were  many ;  but 
such  as  I  could  help,  I  did  endeavour  to  subdue,  that 
they  might  not  trouble  you :  for  those  defects  which  I 
could  not  rectifye  in  myselfe,  as  want  of  judgement  in 
the  management  of  my  family  and  household  affaires, 
which  I  owne  myselfe  to  be  very  defective  in,  I  hope 
your  good  nature  will  excuse,  and  not  remember  to  my 
disadvantage  when  I  am  gone.  I  ask  your  pardon  for 
the  vanitye  of  my  humour,  and  for  being  often  [more] 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  83 


melancholy  and  splenetick  than  I  had  cause  to  be.  I 
was  allwayes  ashamed  of  myselfe  when  I  was  soe.  and 
sorry  for  it,  and  I  hope  it  will  come  into  the  number  of 
those  faults  which  I  could  not  help.  Now  (my  dear) 
God  be  with  thee  ;  pray  God  bless  you,  and  keepe  you 
his  faithfull  Servant  for  ever.  In  him  be  all  thy  joy 
and  delight,  satisfaction  and  comfort,  and  doe  not  grieve 
too  much  for  me,  since  I  hope  I  shall  be  happy,  being 
veiy  much  resign'd  to  God's  will,  and  leaveing  this 
World  with,  I  hope,  in  Christ  Jesus,  a  good  Conscience. 
Now,  my  dear,  if  you  please,  permitt  me  to  ask  leave 
to  bestow  a  legacy  or  two  amongst  my  friends  and 
servants.  In  the  first  place,  if  it  might  be,  I  could 
wish,  when  the  Child  I  goe  with  grows  of  a  fitt  bigg- 
ness,  itt  might  be  either  with  my  sister  Boscawen,  or 
my  sister  Penn,  for  I  know  they  will  be  carefull  of  its 
better  Part,  which  is  the  cheife  thing  I  am  concern'd 

about.    In  the  next  place,  I  desire  you  would  give  B 

[her  woman]  one  hundred  pounds  (the  vse  of  which 
being  six  pounds  a  year,  she  may  live  att  her  Ffather's 
house  vpon,  if  she  will,  for  I  fear  she  will  scarce  gett 
any  one  to  bear  with  her  want  of  good  service,  as  I 
have  done).  For  my  Maid,  if  she  doe  not  marry,  I 
hope  she  will  be  kept  to  looke  after  my  Child,  when  it 
comes  from  Nurse.  In  the  meane  tyme,  you  will  give 
her  board  wages.  For  my  two  footemen,  I  hope  you 
will  gett  them  places  as  soone  as  you  can,  etc.  How- 
ever, if  you  be  not  disposed  (o  keepe  them,  you  will 
give  (hem  att  parting  ten  pounds  a  piece.  I  desire  you 
will  give  my  Sisters  my  share  of  the  (Queen's  Lease, 
fifty  pounds  a  year ;  itt  is  betweene  them  two,  my  vn- 
marryed  ones  I  meane ;  and  to  my  Cozen  Sarah  an 


84  THE    LIFE    OF 


hundred  pounds  in  mony.     To  my  Lady  Silvius  my 
great  diamond  ring,  <fec. 

"  Now,  my  dear,  I  have  done,  if  you  please  to  lay 
out  about  an  hundred  pounds  more  in  rings  for  your 
five  Sisters,  to  remember  me  by.  I  know  nothing  more 
I  have  to  desire  of  you,  but  that  you  will  sometymes 
think  of  me  with  kindness,  butt  never  with  too  much 
griefe.  For  my  Funeral),  I  desire  there  may  be  noe 
cost  bestowed  vpon  it  att  all ;  butt  if  I  might,  I  would 
begg  that  my  body  might  lye  where  I  have  had  such  a 
mind  to  goe  myselfe,  att  Godolphyn,  among  your 
freinds.  I  beleive,  if  I  were  carried  by  Sea,  the  ex- 
pence  would  not  be  very  great ;  but  I  don't  insist  vpon 
that  place,  if  you  think  it  not  reasonable  ;  lay  m^e  where 
you  please. 

"  Pray,  my  deare,  be  kind  to  that  poore  Child  I  leave 
behind,  for  my  sake,  who  lov'd  you  soe  well ;  butt  I 
need  not  bidd  you,  I  know  you  will  be  soe.  If  you 
should  think  fitt  to  marry  againe,  T  humbly  begg  that 
little  fortune  I  brought,  may  be  first  settled  vpon  my 
Child,  and  that  as  long  as  any  of  your  Sisters  live,  you 
will  lett  it  (if  they  permitt)  live  with  them,  for  it  may 
be,  tho'  you  will  love  itt,  my  successor  will  not  be  soe 
fond  of  it,  as  they  I  am  sure  will  be. 

*'  Now,  my  deare  Child,  farewell ;  the  peace  of  God, 
which  passeth  all  vnderstanding,  keepe  your  heart  and 
mind  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God  and  of  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ;  and  the  blessing  of  God  All- 
mighty,  the  Father,  the  Sonn,  and  the  Holy  Gost,  be 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  85 


with   thee,   and  remaine  with  thee,   ever   and  ever. 
Amen." 

Then  follows  what  she  had  intrusted  me  withall. 

This  indearing  Instance  of  a  truely  loyall  and  ad- 
mirable "Wife  were  capable  of  the  most  noble  reflections, 
soe  religious,  so  tender,  soe  discreete,  and  every  way 
becomeing.  That  she  accuses  herselfe  of,  being  some-, 
tymes  more  solemne  than  vsually  young  Ladyes  are, 
and  which  she  calls  the  Spleen,  I  can  by  noe  meanes 
admitt  a  fault :  and  if  her  other  imperfections,  of  which 
she  beggs  pardon,  were  butt  such  as  her  want  of  oecono- 
mique  prudence  in  the  management  of  her  family,  I  dare 
pronounce  her  the  most  consummate  of  all  the  perfec- 
tions that  can  adorne  or  recomend  her  sex. 

I  say  nothing  of  that  wonderfull  affection  to  her 
Husband,  that  made  her  soe  desireous  to  mingle  her 
dirt  with  his  in  a  dormitorye  300  miles  from  the  rest  of 
all  her  Relations,  and  where  to  my  knowledge  she 
would  more  contentedly  have  pass'd  all  her  dayes  with 
him  then  amidst  the  splendor  of  the  greatest  Court,  and 
where  he  might  be  the  Horizon,  all  that  she  could  or 
cared  to  see. 

The  education  of  her  dear  Child  is  next :  Observe 
with  what  care  for  the  better  Part,  with  what  excellent 
choice  for  the  person  to  whome  she  recomcnded  it. 
Nor  does  she  extend  her  kindness  only  to  her  Relations, 
butt  the  meanest  of  her  Servants.  As  for  the  Poore,  she 
bad  not  onely  sent  those  good  workes  before  her,  which 


86  THE    LIFE    OF 


she  now  enjoyes  the  treasure  and  reward  of  in  Heaven, 
butt  tooke  order  they  might  be  continued  after  her,  and 
she  being  dead  yett  speakes. 

I  might  haply  have  taken  it  vnkindly,  if  she  had 
named  so  much  as  a  brother,  and  left  me  out ;  butt  the 
Legatyes   she   bequeathed,  or  rather  desired  her  Hus- 
band to  gratifye  her  in,  were  only  to  her  Sisters  and 
your  Ladyshipp,  except  what  she  bestows  among  her 
Domestick ;  to  one  of  which  she  gave  noe  less   than 
an  hundred  pounds,  and  to  herowne  Sisters  the  valine 
of  a  thousand  ;  lastly,  to  me  the  honour  (att  the  foote 
of  this  Paper)  of  being  mentioned  the  depositarye  of 
her  Trust  as  I  was  the  distributer  of  her  Bounty.     Butt 
which  was  more  obligeing,  the  solemn  profession  to  her 
Husband,  a  little  before  her  Sickness,  that  she  knew  of 
nothing  more  she  had  to   finish  or  wish  for  in   this 
World,  but  that  she  might  doe  me  some  signall  kind- 
ness.    I  confess  she  had  often  both  said  and  written 
soe  to  me,  butt  that  she  should  think  of  it  as  a  Con- 
cerne  doubly  indeares  her  memory.     This  (sayes  that 
excellent  Creature)  she  has  left  me  to  doe,  and  Madam, 
he  has  done  it,  in  allowing  me  the  honour  of  hisfriend- 
shipp,  and  accepting  my  little  services ;  for  the  rest,  1 
have  her  Picture  in  the  house,  and  the  Idea  of  her  vir- 
tues in  my  heart,  besides  a  thousand  expressions  of  a 
religious  and  noble  Friendshipp,  vnder  her  owne  fair 
hand,  which  I  preserve  and  value  above  all  she  could 
else  bequeath  me. 

There  was  another  small  Pacquett  seal'd  vp,  which 
she  desired  by  the  superscription  might  be  burnt,  and 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  87 


not  open'd,  as  accordingly  it  was  perform'd,  and,  as  I 
conceive,  contained  the  Cypher  onely  by  which  she 
vsually  corresponded  with  her  ghostly  Father,  the 
Deane  of  Hereford ;  or  some  particulars,  which  she 
would  not  trust  her  memory  with,  in  case  she  had  lived, 
for  as  I  accquainted  your  Ladyshipp,  she  kept  a  Cata- 
logue of  mercyes,  deliverances,  successes,  resolutions, 
and  other  assistances,  for  the  disscussion  of  her  Con- 
science with  the  most  accurate  niceness.  Butt  I  enter 
not  into  this  secrett. 

Thus  began,  lived,  and  ended  this  incomparable 
Christian,  Virgin,  Wife,  and  Friend,  for  an  emulous  ex- 
ample of  perfection  in  all  those  capacityes.  Butt  after 
all  I  have  said,  impossible  will  it  be  to  conceive  what 
she  was,  without  endeavouring  to  imitate  and  attaine 
those  excellencyes  and  early  virtues  which  made  her 
what  she  was:  to  shew  you  that — ,  something  I  have 
here  attempted  according  to  my  poore  ability  ;  butt  he 
were  a  rare  Artist  indeed  could  reach  the  orriginall,  and 
give  those  last  and  liveing  touches  which  should  make 
it  breathe.  But,  Madam,  this  is  not  to  be  expressed  by 
Hghts  and  shadows  which  is  alltogeather  illustrious, 
and  has  nothing  in  it  darke. 

Here,  then.  Madam,  after  I  have  recounted  to  you 
her  Life, — butt  which  reaches  the  profill  onely,  and 
wants  a  world  of  finishing, — I  should,  according  to  the 
vsuall  method,  conclude  it  with  her  Character,  if  that 
accomplished  peice  were  not  reserved  for  a  greater 
Master,  and  one  that  could  describe  her  mind.  All  I 
can  pretend  to,  will  hardly  reach  the  out  strokes,  and 


88  THE    LIFE    OF 


when  I  shall  have  done  my  best,  be  butt  an  imperfect 
coppy. 

Add  this  paper  (Electra)  to  the  fardle  of  my  other 
Impertinencyes ;  bntt  take  heed  to  the  stepps  and  pro- 
gress you  make,  for  if  I  live,  I  will  write  your  life,  att 
least  from  the  first  approaches  of  our  friendshipp,  till  I 
carry  it  into  other  Mansions.  But  because  your  great 
humility  shall  not  suffer  by  the  admirable  things  I 
must  say  of  you,  nor  the  brightness  of  the  Subject  be 
ecclipsed  by  the  defects  of  the  Instrument,  it  shall  be 
vnder  supposed  names,  but  in  veritable  instances  ;  for 
either  wee  want  such  examples  for  good  writers  to  ex- 
ercise their  style  and  talents  on,  or  good  writers  to 
transmitt  them  to  posteritye. 

I  know  not  really  how  she  could  doe  the  age  wee 
live  in  more  Justice,  nor  leave  that  to  come  a  nobler 
monument  of  Gratitude  for  the  Improvements  your 
Conversation  has  taught  it ;  whilst  Electra  knows  this, 
she  will  need  noe  Socrates  or  Zeno  to  stand  before  her  ; 
she  reveres  herselfe,  and  can  doe  nothing  below  her 
dignitye.  I  protest  to  you,  the  thought  that  she  is  all- 
wayes  present,  and  contemplation  of  her  vertues,  is 
more  to  me  than  a  thousand  dead  philosophers.  But 
wee  have  a  better  monitor,  and  it  were  an  imbecility 
infinitely  beneath  us,  to  need  the  veneration  of  men, 
when  God, — all  Eare  and  Eye,  omniscient  and  omni- 
present, — observes  both  our  words  and  actions.  Lett 
us  both,  therefore,  soe  speak  with  God  as  if  men  heard 
us,  and  soe  converse  with  men  as  if  God  saw  us. 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  89 


Behold,  Madam,  what  I  once  subscribed  at  the 
foote  of  a  Letter  to  this  blessed  Creature  ;  and  often  she 
v/ould  smile  at  what  I  used  to  repeate  upon  this  sub- 
ject, and  as  often  did  I  disbeleive  my  selfe.  Far,  very 
far  was  it  from  my  imagination,  farther,  infinitely  farther 
from  my  desires,  to  survive  (for)  this  office,  who  had  it 
constantly  in  my  wishes,  that  she  might  close  my 
eyes  ;  butt  soe  it  has  pleased  God,  that  I  should  verifye 
my  prophecy,  and  on  your  Ladyshipp's  command,  ab- 
solve my  promise  together.  I  have  written  her  Life,  and 
should  now  present  your  Ladyshipp  with  her  Picture  : 
here  are  Colours,  but  where  is  (as  I  said)  the  Master  ? 
She  sat  indeed  some  considerable  tyme  to  me,  and 
her  conversation  had  been  enough  to  inspire  an  Artist ; 
but  I  assure  you,  there  are  some  peculiar  Graces,  which 
the  most  skillful  doe  not  arrive  to  in  their  most  ela- 
borate and  finished  peeces.  And  she  was  full  of  those, 
and  such  as  I  never  yet  did  see  in  any  of  her  sex  but  in 
her  alone,  and  am  certaine  never  shall,  vnless  it  be  in 
those  few  peeces  she  drew  her  selfe,  whereof  your  Lady- 
shipp is  a  breathing  and  illustrious  one,  whilst  you 
tread  the  pathes  of  her  piety  and  virtues  ;  this.  Madam, 
I  pretend  to  know,  and  to  shew  you  from  whome  I  take 
my  measures. 


The  Picture. 

Lett  me  first  then  recall  to  your  Ladyshipps  remem- 
brance how  she  usually  passed  the  day,  for  an  instance 
allmost  inimitable  in  the  station  where  she  was,  the 
Court.     I  will  begin  with  Sunday  the  first  of  the  weeke. 


90  THE    LIFE    OF 


Were  it  never  soe  darke,  wett,  or  uncomfortable 
weather,  dureing  the  severity  of  winter,  she  would 
rarely  omit  being  att  the  Chappell  att  7  a'clock  pray- 
ers, and  if  a  Comunion  day,  how  late  soever  her  attend- 
ance were  on  the  Q.ueen,  and  her  owne  exterordinary 
preparation  kept  her  up,  slie  would  be  dressed  and  att 
her  private  Devotions  some  hours  before  the  publick 
office  began.  This  brings  to  remembrance  what  I  could 
not  then  but  smile  att,  that  finding  one  day  a  long 
pack  thread  passing  through  the  key  hole  of  her  cham- 
ber doore,  and  reaching  to  her  bed's  head,  opposite  to 
that  of  your  sisters,  if  I  be  not  mistaken,  and  inquireing 
what  it  signifyed,  I  att  last  vnderstood,  itt  had  been  to 
awaken  her  early  in  the  morning,  the  Centinell,  whose 
station  was  of  course  near  the  entrance,  being  desired  to 
pull  it  very  hard  att  such  an  hour,  whilst  the  other  ex- 
tream  was  tyed  fast  about  her  wrist,  fearing  her  maid 
might  over  sleep  lier  selfe,  or  call  her  later  then  she  had 
appointed. 

But  besides  the  monthly  Comunions,  she  rarely 
missed  a  Sunday  throughout  the  whole  Year,  wherein 
she  did  not  receive  the  holy  Sacrament,  if  she  were  in 
towne  and  toUerable  health  ;  and  I  well  know  she  had 
those  who  gave  her  constant  advertisement  where  it 
was  celebrated  vpon  some  more  solemn  festivals,  be- 
sides not  seldome  on  the  weeke  days  assisting  at  one 
poore  creatures  or  other  ;  and  when  sometymes,  being 
in  the  Country,  or  on  a  Journey,  she  had  not  these  op- 
pertunityes,  she  made  use  of  a  devout  meditation  upon 
that  sacred  Mistery,  by  way  of  mentall  Comunion,  soe 
as  she  was  in  a  continuall  slate  of  preparation  ;  and  O 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN. 


with  what  unspeakable  care  and  niceness  did  she  use 
to  dress  and  trim  her  soul  against  this  Heavenly  Ban- 
quet!, with  what  flagrant  devotion  at  the  Alter.  I  doe 
assure  your  Ladyshipp,  I  have  seen  her  receive  the 
holy  symbolls,  with  such  an  humble  and  melting  joy  in 
her  countenance,  as  seem'd  to  be  something  of  trans- 
port, not  to  say  angelic — something  I  cannot  describe  : 
and  she  has  her  selfe  confessed  to  me  to  have  felt  in 
her  soule  such  influxes  of  heavenly  Joy  as  have  all- 
most  carryed  her  into  another  world ;  I  doe  not  call 
them  Rapts  and  Elapses,  because  she  would  not  have 
endured  to  be  esteemed  above  other  humble  Christians  ; 
butt  that  she  was  sometymes  visitted  with  exterordina- 
ry  favours  T  have  many  reasons  to  believe  :  see  what 
upon  another  occasion  she  writes  to  me. 

"  O,  my  friend,  how  happy  was  I  on  Sunday  last. 
By  reason  of  this  foolish  play,"  (of  which  I  have  all- 
ready  given  your  Ladyshipp  an  account,)  "  most  im- 
perfect were  my  preparations,  and  yett  I  doe  not  remem- 
ber that  God  was  ever  more  gratious  to  me  but  once 
afore  ;  and  indeed  that  tyme  I  had  soe  great  a  sence  of 
my  owne  unworthyness  and  the  wonderfull  condescen- 
tion  and  love  of  God,  that  I  had  like  to  have  fallen  flat 
on  my  face  ;  butt  that  except  this  was  the  most  refresh- 
ing. O  Jesus,  (said  I,)  how  happy  are  wee,  how  bless- 
ed, that  have  the  Lord  for  our  God.  And  you,  blessed 
Angells,  who  are  present  att  these  assemblyes,  admire- 
ing  the  heavenly  bounty,  I  tell  you  1  was  even  dissolv- 
ed with  love  to  God.  And  yett,  after  all  this,  what 
wretched  things  we  are  :  I  was  drowsy  att  Church, 
wandering  in  my  thoughts,  and    forgettfull  of  these 


92  THE    LIFE    OF 


favours  that  very  day  ;  and  great  cause  I  had  to  lament 
my  sinnsof  even  that  day.  Thus  I  acknowledged  to 
you  Gods  love  to  my  poore  soule,  and  my  foule  ingrati- 
tude to  him  ;  that  you  may  pray  for  the  continuance  of 
the  one,  and  I  trust  the  other  will  in  tyme  grow  less." 
See  this  humble  soule.     But  I  subjoyne  one  more. 

"  I  bless  God,"  (says  she,)  "  I  grow  dayly  less  fond 
of  the  world,  more  thankfull  to  God,  less  solicitous  for 
outward  things,  and  more  thirsty  for  the  blessed  Sacra- 
ment, not  as  I  was  wont,  nor  because  I  hold  it  my  duty, 
but  out  of  an  ardent  desire  to  commemorate  my  Sa- 
viour's death,  and  to  be  againe  entertained  with  the 
wonderfull  pleasure  that  I  feele  there,  and  noe  where 
else.  All  worldly  joyes,  all  splendid  ornaments,  titles 
and  honour,  would  I  bring  to  the  feete  of  my  crucifyed 
Saviour." 

Nor  did  this  blessed  Saint  hear  the  word  of  God 
with  less  reverence  ;  imploying  that  day  almost  intire- 
ly  in  pious  meditations,  and  never  failing  to  recollect 
what  she  had  heard,  with  that  diligence,  that  there  was 
not  a  Sermon  but  what  she  had  abstracted,  writeing 
downe  the  principall  heads  of  the  whole  discourse,  soe 
soone  as  she  came  from  Church  (if  she  had  leasure), 
or,  to  be  sure,  in  the  evening  ere  she  slept ;  and  this 
course  she  never  omitted,  nor  to  repeat  what  she  ob- 
served of  most  instructive  :  and  her  memory  was  soe 
happy,  as  nothing  materiall  escaped  her.  This,  to  my 
astonishment,  1  can  testifye. 

How  would   this  Lady  rejoyce  att  the  approach  of 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  '  93 


the  Lord's  day.  She  has  often  told  me,  she  felt  anoth- 
er sonle  in  her,  and  that  there  was  nothing  more  afflicted 
her,  than  those  impertinent  visitts  on  Sunday  Evenings, 
which  she  avoided  with  all  imaginable  industry ;  whilst 
yett  seldome  did  she  pass  one  without  goeing  to  visitt, 
pray  by,  or  instruct  some  poore  religious  Creature  or 
other,  tho'  it  were  to  the  remotest  part  of  the  Towne, 
and  sometymes,  if  the  season  were  inviteing,  walke 
into  the  fields  or  Gardens  to  contemplate  the  workes  of 
God.  In  a  word,  she  was  allwayes  so  solemnly  chear- 
full  upon  that  day,  and  soe  devout,  that  without  looke- 
ing  into  the  Kalender,  one  might  have  read  it  in  her 
countenance.  Thus  was  the  Sunday  taken  up  in 
prayers,  hearing,  receiveing,  meditateing  on  the  word 
and  workes  of  God,  acts  of  Charity,  and  other  holy 
exercises,  without  the  least  formalitye  or  confusion,  be- 
cause she  had  cast  all  her  affairs  into  such  a  method, 
as  rendered  it  delightfull  as  well  as  holy. 

Vpon  festivall  dayes,  she  never  omitted  the  offices 
of  the  Church  ;  takeing  those  opportunityes  of  visitt- 
ing  poore  sick  people,  reiieveing  and  comforting  them  ; 
and  then  would  lengthen  her  evening  retirements  with 
proper  meditations  on  the  Mystery,  or  comemoration  ; 
for  which  she  had  of  her  owne  collection,  apposite  en- 
tertainments :  butt  then  upon  indicted  fast  dayes,  besides 
what  she  weekly  sett  apart  her  selfe,  and  (especially 
before  the  Monthly  Comunions)  how  exterordinary 
were  her  recesses  and  devotions  one  very  Friday,  when 
she  rarely  stirr'd  out  of  her  little  Oratorye  butt  to  pub- 
lique  prayers,  and  then  would  end  the  evenings  in  vis- 
itts of  charity  ;  and  did  for  severall  years  observe  the 


94  THE    LIFE    OF 


Lent  with  strictness,  both  as  to  her  reflections  and  de- 
votion, till  finding  it  much  impaire  her  health  and  deli- 
cate constitution,  something  of  those  severe  mortifica- 
tions, she  was  persvvaded  to  abate  ;  onely  the  holy 
weeke  her  exercises  was  extended  to  all  the  parts  of 
duty,  and  more  solemn  preparation,  spent  in  an  unin- 
terrupted course  of  penitentiall  and  exterordnary  devo- 
tion, yett  without  superstitious  usages,  or  the  least 
morossness. 

Vpon  such  Anniversaryes,  she  would  be  early  att 
the  Chappell,  and  sometymes  I  have  knowne  her  shutt 
vp  in  the  Church  after  the  publick  offices  have  been 
ended,  without  returneing  to  her  Chamber  att  all,  to 
prevent  impertinent  visitts  and  avocations,  and  that  she 
might  spend  the  day  in  continuall  devotion.  With 
these  austerityes  passed  she  the  dayes  of  abstinence ; 
nay,  though  it  fell  vpon  a  festivall,  and  when  others 
thought  themselv's  att  liberty.  This  recalls  to  me  an 
answer  which  she  once  return'd  me,  kindly  reproveing 
her  for  a  severity  on  a  certaine  holy  day. 

"  As  to  fasting  on  a  festivall,"  (sayes  she,)  "  I  had 
not  done  it,  butt  that  1  had  for  it  the  opinion  of  a  learned 
and  reverend  Bishopp,  who  told  me  it  was  not  a  fasting 
day  of  our  owne  makeing  ;  wee  might,  when  a  fast  and 
a  feast  of  the  Church  meete,  feast  att  Church  and  fast 
att  home ;  which  I  did,  and  it  was  a  good  day  with 
me  :  I  could  be  content  never  to  dyne  soe  long  as  1  live, 
soe  as  I  might  spend  every  day  like  that." 

By  this  your  Ladyshipp  may  see  how  well  advised 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  95 


she  was  in  all  she  did,  and  what  exterordnary  gust  and 
satisfaction  she  received  in  her  devout  intercourses. 

Butt  the  truth  is,  not  onely  did  she  fast  on  dayes  of 
Indiction,  and  such  as  the  Church  enjoy nes  :  every 
meale  was  a  day  of  abstinence  with  her,  for  as  she 
seldome  eate  of  above  one  or  two  dishes,  where  there 
were  great  plenty,  soe  very  rarely  would  she  have  any 
sauces,  and  commonly  chose  the  dryest  and  leanest 
morsells  ;  and  frequently  have  I  knowne  her  deny  her 
appetite  things  which  I  am  certaine  she  lov'd,  soe  as  I 
have  made  it  now  and  then  a  little  quarrel],  for  treating 
her  selfe  no  better,  considering  her  tender  fabrick,  early 
riseing,  tedious  and  late  watchings,  laborious  devotions, 
and  not  seldome  even  to  fainting  in  her  retirements. 
Butt  she  would  tell  me  smileingly,  that  she  was  as 
strong  as  a  lyon  ;  and  though  I  manifestly  perceived 
the  contrary,  both  by  her  countenance  and  other  cir- 
cumstances, that  these  austerityes  did  her  injury,  she 
would  disguise  it  with  an  industry  soe  naturall,  and 
putt  such  life  and  chearfallness  into  her  lookes  and 
minej  as  has  made  me  call  to  mind  what  wee  read  of 
Daniell  and  his  companions,  (Dan.  i,)  who  after  their 
asscetick  foode.  looked  fairer  and  in  better  point  then 
all  the  rest  who  eat  of  the  Royall  portion.  "  I  can  be 
fatt,"  (she  would  tell  me,)  "  in  three  dayes  when  I  will." 

I  forgott  to  remember  your  Ladyshipp,  of  her  im- 
ploying  most  part  of  Lent  in  workeing  for  poore  people 
cutting   out   and   makeing  waistcoates  and  other    ne- 
cessary coverings,  which   she   constantly   distributed 
amongst  them,  like  another  Dorcas,  spending  much  of 


96  THE    LIFE    OF 


her  tyme,  and  no  little  of  her  money,  in  relieving,  vis- 
itting,  and  enquireing  of  them  out.  And  whilst  she 
was  thus  busy  with  her  needle,  she  would  commonly 
have  one  or  other  read  by  her,  through  which  means, 
and  a  happy  memory,  she  had  allmost  the  whole  Scrip- 
tures by  heart,  and  was  soe  versed  in  Doctor  Ham- 
mond's Annotations  and  other  practicall  bookes,  Con- 
troversyes,  and  Cases,  as  might  have  stocked  some  vv^ho 
pass  for  noe  small  Divines  ;  not  to  mention  sundry 
divine  penitentiall  and  other  Hymns,  breathing  of  a 
Spiritt  of  holyness,  and  such  as  shew'd  the  tenderness 
of  her  heart,  and  wonderfull  love  to  God. 

Thus  spent  she  the  Sunday,  feasts,  or  fasts ;  nor 
were  the  exterordnary  weeke  dayes  other  than  Sun- 
dayes  with  her  when  none  came  to  interrupt  her  course, 
which  in  some  particulars  was  constant  and  uninter- 
mitted.  For  the  Sun  had  not  yett  drawne  the  Curtaines 
of  his  purple  bed,  whose  riseing  she  oft  prevented,  and 
even  sometymes  the  Morning  watch,  when  this  holy 
Virgin,  wakeing,  after  a  short  Ejaculation  to  the  Fa- 
ther of  lights  for  the  refreshment  she  had  received,  thus 
excites  herselfe, — 

"  Up  and  he  doeing,  sleepe  no  more  ; 
Hark  I  who  is  knocking  att  the  doore  7 
Arise,  tny  faire  one^  come  away  ; 
For  thee  I  waite  :  arise,  and  pray. 
SJiake  off  tJiy  Sleepe  ;  behold,  His  I ! 
Canst  thou  love  that,  when  I  am  by  7 
Vaine  thoughts,  presume  not  to  come  near, 
YoiCl  find  no  entertainments  here  ; 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  97 


My  Love  has  sworne — her  voids  arei^ast — 
That  I  shall  he  her  first  and  last. 
Rise  then^  my  dearest,  come  and  see 
What  pleasure  as  are  reserv'd  for  thee. 
I  come,  dear  Lord.     Behold  I  rise. 
Thee,  I  beyond  all  jjleasures  prize.^^ 

Doe  not  imagine  I  am  pursueing  a  romance,  or  in 
a  rapture  myselfe,  whilst  I  call  her  up  with  this  angel- 
ick  Hymne,  since  I  can  assure  your  Ladyshipp  'tis 
butt  what  I  find  under  her  owne  hand,  and  amongst 
those  devout  transports  and  composures  of  hers,  which 
I  am  certaine  were  her  owne :  and  when  she  was  in. 
health  she  would  be  calPd  whilst  it  was  yett  darke,  to 
seeke  her  Lord,  like  those  holy  women  that  went 
early  to  the  Sepulcher. 

Noe  sooner  was  she  descended  from  her  bed,  but 
she  fell  on  her  knees  in  profound  adoration  ;  and  all 
the  time  of  her  dressing, — which  for  the  most  part  she 
finish'd  of  her  selfe  without  other  help, — her  mayd  was 
reading  some  part  of  Scripture  to  her,  and  when  her 
assistance  was  necessary,  she  would  take  the  booke 
herselfe,  and  read  to  her  maid;  thus  continually  im- 
ploy'd  she  her  meditations,  till  she  was  fully  dress'd  ; 
which  she  would  be  in  a  very  little  tyme,  even  to  all 
the  agreeable  circumstances  becomeing  her,  because 
indeed  she  became  every  thing,  and  this  early  riseing 
and  little  indulgence  to  her  ease,  made  her  looke  like  a 
flower,  lovely,  and  fresh,  and  full  of  health  :  being  in 
this  posture,  she  withdrew  to  private  devotion  in  her 
closett,  till  her  servant  advertised  her  it  was  tyme  to 

6 


98  THE    LIFE    OF 


goe  to  the  Chappell,  where  she  was  ever  with  the  first 
of  the  devout  sex,  were  it  never  soe  wett,  cold,  and 
darke,  even  before  day  breake,  in  midst  of  winter. 

Return'd  from  Chappell,  she  would  shutt  her  selfe 
npp  in  her  little  Oratorye  againe,  where,  till  the 
dueene  requir'd  her  attendance,  (for  now  I  describe 
her  as  she  was  att  Court,)  she  was  either  imployed  in 
reading  some  holy  booke,  or  getting  some  Chapter  or 
Psalmes  by  heart,  such  as  she  had  collected  abundance 
of  the  most  edifyeing  ;  neither  omitted  she  to  pray  con- 
stantly with  her  small  family,  which  she  tooke  great 
care  to  instruct  upon  all  occasions.  Nor  did  her  fore- 
noone  devotion  determine  here ;  she  not  seldome 
might  be  found  in  the  Chappell  at  ten  a'Clock  in  the 
longer  office.  Nay,  and  I  have  sometymes  mett  her 
above  in  his  Majestyes  little  oratorye  before  dinner,  if 
conveniently  she  could  slipp  away  from  the  mixt  Com- 
pany of  the  withdrawing  Roome,  whilst  the  Q,ueene 
satt  out ;  and  this  she  did,  not  out  of  singularity  or 
superstitious  devotion,  or  that  she  thought  herselfe 
obliged  to  it,  butt  (as  she  has  told  me)  to  avoid  occa- 
sions of  idle  and  impertinent  discourse,  which  was  all- 
most  unavoidable  in  the  Ante-Chambers. 

Soe  soone  as  her  Majestye  had  dyned,  (if  it  were 
her  duty  and  turne  to  wayte,)  and  that  she  had  alsoe 
taken  her  repast,  if  she  owed  no  formall  visitts,  or 
were  not  interrupted  by  others,  she  usually  spent  the 
afternoone  in  workeing  with  her  needle,  which  was 
comonly  (butt  espetially,  as  I  noted,  in  Lent  tyme,) 
makeing  Coates  and  Garments  for  poore  people,  and 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  99 

sometymes  for  great  and  rich,  for  there  was  nothing  but 
[what]  her  deUcate  fingers  could  doe,  and  she  had  an 
Invention  and  fancey  soe  elegant  and  pretty,  that  when 
there  was  any  thing  exterordinary  to  be  done  in  suite- 
ing  Ornaments  and  adjusting  Ladyes'  matters  att 
Court,  tho'  she  affected  none  of  this  her  selfe,  happy 
was  the  most  illustrious  of  the  Circle,  [who]  could  have 
her  to  dress  and  sett  them  out. 

She  was  sometymes  engaged  to  pass  the  after  dyn- 
ner  att  Cards,  especially  when  she  came  to  Berkley 
House,  (where  was  great  resort,)  more  to  comply  with 
others,  than  that  she  tooke  the  least  delight  in  it ;  and 
iho'  being  comonly  extreamly  fortunate,  and  very  skill- 
full, she  comonly  rose  a  winner,  and  allwayes  reserved 
her  winnings  for  the  poore,  itt  was  yett  amongst  the 
greatest  afflictions  of  her  life,  when,  to  comply  with 
some  persons  of  Qualitye,  she  satt  any  thing  long  att 
itt.  How  many  sad  complaints  has  she  made  to  me  of 
this  particular  :  I  tell  you  she  looked  on  it  as  a  Calamity 
and  subjection  insupportable.  But  neither  did  this  nor 
any  other  consideration  detaine  her  from  being  present 
att  publick  prayers  att  3  or  4  a'clock,  for  she  would 
then  break  off,  and  happ'ly  take  that  opportunitye  of 
makeing  some  visitt,  if  she  had  any  to  pay. 

She  had  her  houres  also  for  reading  historye  and 
diversions  of  that  nature ;  but  allwayes  such  as  were 
choice,  profittable,  and  instructive,  and  she  had  de- 
voured an  incredible  deale  of  that  solid  knowledge,  and 
could  accompt  of  it  to  admiration  ;  soe  as  I  have  even 
beene  astonished  to  find  such  an  heape  of  excellent 


100  THE    LIFE    OF 


things  and  materiall  observations  collected  and  written 
with  her  owne  hand,  many  of  which  (since  her  being 
with  God)  came  to  myne,  for  besides  a  world  of  ad- 
mirable prayers  and  pieces  of  flagrant  devotion,  medi- 
tations, and  discourses  on  various  subjects,  (which  she 
compos'd)  there  was  hardly  a  booke  she  read  that  she 
had  not  common  placed,  as  it  were,  or  taken  some  re- 
markable note  of ;  add  this  to  the  Diary  of  her  owne 
life,  actions,  resolutions,  and  other  circumstances,  of 
which  I  shall  give  some  specimen.  She  had  con- 
tracted the  intire  historye  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the 
most  illustrious  examples,  sentences,  and  precepts,  di- 
gested under  apposite  and  proper  heads  ;  and  collected 
togeather  the  result  of  every  Article  of  the  Apostles' 
Creed,  out  of  Bishopp  Pearson's  excellent  Treatise.  I 
have  allready  spoken  of  her  Sermon  Notes ;  butt  to 
give  a  just  Account  of  her  Letters,  they  are  soe  many 
and  in  so  excellent  naturall  and  easy  a  style,  that  as 
for  their  number,  one  would  beleive  she  did  nothing 
else  butt  write,  soe  for  their  weight  and  ingenuity,  that 
she  ought  to  doe  nothing  else ;  and  so  easily  did  her 
Invention  flow,  that  I  have  scene  her  write  a  very  long 
letter  without  once  takeing  off"  her  penn  (butt  to  dipp 
it),  and  that  with  exterordnary  Judgment ;  they  were 
cogent,  pathetick,  and  obliging,  and  allwayes  about 
doeing  some  kind  office  or  Religious  Correspondence. 
Nor  less  was  she  indefatigable  in  reading ;  seldome 
stirring  abroad  without  some  good  booke  about  her, 
that  if  by  any  accident  she  were  to  attend  or  be  alone, 
she  might  lose  no  tyme ;  and  indeed  the  tone  of  her 
voice  (when  she  read  to  others)  was  soe  suited  to  all 
the  passions  and  figures  either  of  reading  or  discourse, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  101 


that  there  was  nothing  more  charmeing  then  to  heare 
her  recite  v%4th  such  a  Spiritt  and  Judgment  as  the  pe- 
riods fell.  'Tis  hardly  to  be  imagined,  the  talent  she 
peculiarly  had  in  repeating  a  comicall  part  or  acting  it, 
when  in  a  chearfull  humour  and  amongst  some  par- 
ticular friends,  she  would  sometymes  divert  them ; 
and  I  have  heard  her  pronounce  a  Sermon  in  French 
which  she  had  heard  preached  by  a  fryar  in  Paris 
vpon  the  profession  of  a  Nun,  att  which  she  was  pre- 
sent, that  really  surprized  me.  Those  who  had  ob- 
serv'd  the  fantastick  motion  of  those  Zealotts  in  the 
pulpitt  would  have  seen  in  this  Lady's  action,  inven- 
tion, and  preachment,  the  prettiest  and  most  innocent 
Mimick  in  the  World,  and  have  reahy  beleived  it  had 
been  the  Enthusiast  himselfe,  butt  for  his  frock  and 
face,  that  had  inspired  her:  certainely  she  was  the 
most  harmeless  and  diverting  Creature  in  nature. 
Butt  as  her  witt  was  infinite,  and  in  Conversation  far 
superior  to  any  of  her  sex,  soe  to  curb  it,  had  she  such 
perpetuall  apprehensions  of  God's  omnipresence,  that 
she  industriously  suppressed  it.  I  could  tell  your  La- 
dyshipp  of  some  artificial  helps  she  used,  to  keep  her 
alhvayes  in  mind  of  it :  thus  she  would  pin  up  some 
papers,  as  it  were  negligently,  in  places  where  she 
most  frequently  used  to  be,  with  some  Character  in  it, 
or  halfe  word,  that  signifyed  to  her  some  particular 
duty  or  Caution  ;  and  though  I  never  came  to  know 
this  from  her  selfe,  yett  by  some  observations  which  I 
made,  I  am  confident  of  what  I  say.  Butt  this  she  did 
to  curb  and  restraine  (I  said)  her  sprightfull  witt  in 
perfect  humihty,  and  out  of  feare  and  tenderness  lest 
she  mi^ht  offend ;  tho'  never  was  Creature  more  dis- 


102  THE    LIFE    OF 


creetly  reserv'd,  or  that  better  vnderstood  when  and 
what  it  was  fitt  to  speak  and  entertaine  her  friends. 

To  preserve  her  selfe  then  in  this  humble  temper, 
and  assist  her  more  minute  Confessions,  she  kept  (as  1 
have  hinted)  an  account  of  her  actions  and  resohuions, 
as  since  her  decease  I  find.  In  this  it  was  she  sett 
downe  her  Infirmityes  she  laboured  vnder,  what  de- 
liverances she  had  from  danger,  what  favour  received, 
what  Methods  she  resolved  to  take  for  the  imployment 
of  her  tyme,  and  obligations  laid  vpon  her  selfe  to  per- 
forme  what  she  soe  resolved,  which  doubtless  was  a 
Course  to  keep  her  close  to  duty,  as  well  as  the  fre- 
quent Counsells  of  her  Ghostly  father  upon  all  difficul- 
tyes  by  the  constant  Intercourse  of  Letters,  soe  as  she 
[was]  seldome  in  suspence,  what  she  ought  to  doe 
upon  any  difficulty  which  might  concerne  her :  and 
this  infinitely  contributed  to  the  ChearfuUness  of  her 
Spiritts  and  interior  peace  ;  she  was  really  soe  afraid 
that  others  should  think  too  well  of  her,  that  she  has 
sometymes  bitterly  accused  herselfe,  and  was  wont  to 
send  me  an  anniversary  account  of  her  faileings  and 
Infirmityes,  in  which  God  knows  there  were  very  few, 
with  a  gratefull  remembrance  to  God  of  her  Improve- 
ments, which  I  knew  to  be  much  greater  than  she 
would  acknowledge,  desireing  both  advice  and  prayers 
for  her. 

As  the  Morning,  soe  in  the  Evening,  itt  was  even  in 
some  exterordinary  and  indispensable  buisness  which 
att  any  tyme  hindered  her  from  the  Church  office,  which 
if  she  missed  att  three  a'clock,  she  would  be  sure  to 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  103 


find  att  six,  whether  she  were  abroad  or  att  home  ;  and 
after  that  as  constantly  retired  some  competent  tyme 
before  Sapper  for  recollection,  Reading  and  private  de- 
votion ;  and  would  sometymes  walk  abroad  to  con- 
template the  workes  of  God,  for  which  she  was  furnish 
with  proper  meditations,  which  she  could  extend  out 
of  her  owne  stock,  as  I  can  witness,  to  my  singular 
edification  and  no  small  admiration  ;  there  was  really 
nothing  she  cast  her  Eye  upon,  butt  instead  of  imperti- 
nent wandring  she  would  derive  some  holy  use  from. 

"  I  wish  you  here  betymes,"'  (one  day  writeing  to 
me,)  "  that  wee  may  walk  together.  I  fancy  I  could 
talk  of  God  for  ever ;  and,  indeed,  what  else  can  wee 
speake  of  butt  our  God,  of  whome  wee  never  can  say 
enough  :"  for  Tuesday  being  vsually  the  day  I  visitted 
her  of  course,  whether  wee  walked  into  the  Gardens, 
the  fields,  or  within  doores,  the  most  agreeable  conver- 
sation to  her,  was  the  contemplation  of  the  workes  of 
God ;  [or]  the  contriveing  how  to  bring  about  some 
charitable  office ;  and  as  she  was  strangely  happy  in 
composing  differences,  soe  was  she  of  soe  lucky  address 
and  universally  beloved,  that  what  she  undertooke  she 
seldome  failed  of  accomplishing.  Generous  as  she  was, 
and  soe  obligeing  to  her  freinds,  there  hardly  passed  a 
day  in  which  she  had  not  done  some  signall  kindness  : 
nor  disdained  she  the  meanest  Circumstances,  soe  she 
might  doe  good ;  not  to  omitt  how  resolute  she  was  in 
other  dutyes.  Nor  in  all  these  pious  Labours,  [was 
she]  the  least  troublesome,  scrupulous,  singular,  or 
morose,  butt  [of]  the  most  easy  and  chearful  conversa- 
tion in  the  world. 


104  THE    LIFE    OF 


Thus  passed  she  the  Evenings  till  Supper ;  which  she 
for  the  most  part  refused  her  selfe^  spending  that  tyme  in 
her  oratory  ;  and  if  she  did  come  downe,  eating  spare- 
ingly,  retired  againe  soe  soone  as  decently  she  could  dis- 
engage her  selfe  to  pray  with  her  little  family,  and  fin- 
ish the  rest  of  her  private  course  before  she  went  to  re- 
pose. This  your  Ladyshipp  knows  and  could  speake 
to  much  better  then  my  selfe,  whilst  you  were  fellow  vir- 
gins and  companions  in  holy  dutyes ;  and  thus  lived 
she  to  God  and  to  her  selfe.  Let  us  now  take  a  view 
how  she  conversed  with  others,  Domesticks  and 
Friends,  after  she  was  a  Wife,  and  had  a  family  to 
governe. 

It  is  usually  said  of  marryed  people,  "  such  a  one 
has  altered  her  condition,"  indeed,  soe  had  shee.  Butt 
in  noe  sort  her  Course.  Itt  could  not  be  said  of  this 
paire,  that  those  who  are  marryed  cared  for  the  things 
of  this  world  how  they  might  please  one  another,  for 
never  was  there  Lady  pleased  soe  well  as  when  she 
was  careing  for  the  things  of  the  Lord,  and  this  she 
did  (if  any  ever  did)  without  distraction,  knowing  that 
she  could  never  please  her  husband  better  then  when 
she  was  pleasing  God  ;  soe  as  she  was,  (I  may  truly 
say,)  the  same  [as]  a  wife  and  a  virgin.  And  such  a 
Marriage  it  was,  I  am  perswaded  St.  Paul  himselfe 
would  have  preferred  above  the  celibate  he  soe  highly 
comended,  butt  for  which  he  had  noe  command,  butt 
spoke  on  supposition. 

She  was  none  of  those  who  would  have  excused 
her  comeing  to  the  divine  and  royall  feasts  because  she 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  105 


had  marryed  an  husband;  slackmg  in  nothing  of  her 
former  zeale  and  labours  of  love,  without  the  least  im- 
peachment to  her  domestick  Charge.  Soe  dextrously 
she  knew  to  reconcile  both  those  dutyes,  that  I  beleive 
there  never  was  family  more  an  household  of  faith, 
never  persons  linked  togeather  in  a  more  honourable, 
happy,  and  easy  bond ;  for  as  she  was  an  excellent 
Christian,  she  was  a  noe  less  unparalleld  wife  ;  I  need 
not  therefore  describe  this  vertue  to  your  Ladyshipp,  or 
call  that  complaisance  which  was  the  height  of  a  most 
vertuous  affection  ;  and  reciprocal! ;  for  never  were 
two  persons  soe  framed  for  one  another's  dispositions, 
never  lived  paire  in  more  peace  and  harmony  ;  and 
yett,  tho'  this  conversation  was  the  most  noble  and  be- 
corneing  in  the  world,  without  troublesome  fondness, 
yett  she  could  not  conceale  the  affliction  she  suffered 
when  he  was  absent,  as  when  he  had  been  sometymes 
sent  abroad  by  his  Majesty e,  upon  diverse  publick  con- 
cerns of  State,  nor  the  Joy  that  so  spread  it  selfe  in  her 
countenance,  and  agreeable  humour,  when  he  was  pre- 
sent. In  a  word,  she  was  conversation  as  well  as  Com- 
panion for  a  wise  and  excellent  person,  soe  as  if  ever 
two  were  created  for  each  other,  and  marriages,  as 
they  say,  made  in  heaven,  this  happy  paire  were  of  the 
number.  O  irreparable  loss,  never  to  be  repaired  on 
this  side  that  blessed  place. 

For  the  prudent  management  of  her  domestick  af- 
fairs, she  was  not  to  learne  what  ever  might  become  the 
gravest  or  [most]  experienced  Matron  as  well  as  Mis- 
tress. She  had  soone  made  choice  of  such  servants, 
and  putt  all  things  in  such  order,  as  nothing  was  more 

6* 


106  THE    LIFE    OF 


easy,  methodicall,  and  quiett ;  without  singularity  or 
affectation  ;  notliing  more  decent  and  honourable.  She 
provided  them  bookes  to  read,  prayers  to  use  by  them- 
selves, and  constantly  instructed  them  herselfe  in  the 
principles  of  Religion  ;  tooke  care  for  their  due  receive- 
ing  of  the  holy  Sacrament,  and  was  in  a  word  the  best 
mistress  in  the  world :  wittness  her  bountiful!  remem- 
brance of  them  att  her  death,  of  which  I  have  allready 
spoken. 

She  tooke  exact  Accompt  of  her  dayly  expenses, 
which  every  Saturday  she  used  to  summe  up,  and  never 
went  on  score  ;  soe  just  and  provident  she  was  ;  make- 
ing  that  a  delight  which  others  looke  on  as  a  Burthen, 
— namely,  the  care  of  her  family,  which  she  would  goe 
through  with  an  hardiness  and  masculine  virtue,  soe 
farr  was  she  from  being  nice  and  delicate,  that  it  infi- 
nitely became  her.  None  knew  better  then  she  to  buy 
and  to  chuse  what  was  fitt,  tempering  a  discreet  fru- 
galitye  with  a  generous  hand  and  a  large  heart ;  and 
if  in  any  thing  profuse  itt  was  in  her  Charitye. 

And  that  I  have  shewed  your  Ladyshipp  how  she 
lived  to  God  and  to  herselfe,  1  have  now  to  add  how 
she  conversed  with  her  Neighbours,  whom  she  loved 
as  herselfe. 

Your  Ladyshipp  is  of  too  generous  a  Soule  to  forgett 
that  particular  affection  she  bore  you  to  the  last,  the 
esteeme  she  had  of  your  excellent  sister  and  Relations  : 
and  methinks  I  still  see  the  concerne  she  shewed,  when 
you  were  preparing  to  goe  into  Holland  about  this  tyme, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  107 


because  her  solicitude  for  your. prosperity  was  accompa- 
nyed  with  a  tender  friendshipp  ;  which  I  find  you 
would  keepe  in  memory  by  the  Instances  you  make  to 
one,  whonie  you  justly  think  have  noe  less  gratefull  dis- 
position to  celebrate  her  vertues. 

Indeed  never  was  any  Creature  more  obligeing  to 
her  friends  and  Relations  ;  to  whose  Civilityes,  that 
she  might  be  just,  she  not  only  kept  a  Catalogue  of 
those  she  had  a  more  particular  esteeme  of,  butt  would 
studdy  all  imaginable  wayes  to  be  serviceable  to  them. 
Wee  both  are  wittnesses  of  the  paines  she  would  un- 
dergoe  to  proselyte  vaine  or  indifferent  Christians,  and 
with  what  an  admirable  address  she  did  it ;  without 
the  least  diminition  of  her  selfe,  or  mean  complyance 
to  gaine  friendshipp  with  esteeme  ;  tho'  she  was  scru- 
pulously carefuU  not  to  multiply  accqjiaintances,  con- 
sidering the  precious  moments  that  are  lost  in  imperti- 
nent and  formal  visitts,  and  therefore  reduceing  [them] 
to  a  select  and  choice  number.  Nothing  in  the  world 
did  more  afflict  her  then  the  trifling  Conversation  K)f 
some  whome  of  Decency  she  was  obliged  to  bear  with, 
whilst  there  was  not  a  visitt  which  she  returned  to  such, 
butt  with  a  secrett  designe,  how  she  might  either  reclaims 
those  who  were  less  reserved  and  circumspect,  or  con- 
firme  and  incourage  those  that  were  more.  Never 
should  you  hear  her  speake  to  the  disadvantage  of  an 
absent  person  ;  butt  if  others  did,  she  would  be  either 
silent  and  say  nothing,  unless  where  she  could  excuse 
them,  or  divert  the  discourse.  In  every  thing  else  she 
had  a  wonderfuU  complacency  of  nature  ;  which  was 
infinitely  improved  by  Religion,  and  a  kind  of  univer- 


108  THE    LIFE    OF 


sail  Charitye,  soe  as  to  acomodatc  her  sclfe  to  all  inno- 
cent humours.     She  would  sing,  and  play,  and  act, 
and  recite,  and  discourse  prettyly  and  innocently  a 
thousand  harmeless  and  ingenious  purposes  to  recreat 
old  and  melancholy  persons,  and  divert  the  younger. 
She  had  kindness  and  good  nature  to  silt  by  the  sick 
and  peevish,  read  and  pray  by  them  with  insuperable 
patience  and  chearfullness,  and  comply  even  with  little 
Children ;  she  played  att  any  the  most  difficult  games 
suiteable  to  their  Conversation,  and  that  skillfully  :  nor 
was^there  any  resisting  her  agreeable  way  and  governing 
spiritt ;  soe  that  (as  I  noted)  the  greatest  Duchesses 
and  Ladyes  of  the  Court  sought  her  friendshipp  and 
assistance  vpon  any  occasion  of  solemn  pomp,  Masque, 
Ball,  or  exterordinary  appearance,  because  of  a  certaine 
peculiar  fancy  and  address  she  had  in  suiteing,  dress- 
ing, and  continueing  things  of  Ornament,  with  univer- 
sall  approbation,  whilst  in  all  these  Complyances,  she 
was  watchfull  of  opportunityes  to  instill  something  of 
vertue  and  Religion,  as  well  by  her  discourse  as  ex- 
ample, and  in  such  a  manner,  as  not  only  avoided  the 
Censure  of  Impertinence  and  singularity,  butt  which 
more  endeared  her  to  them.     What  shall  I  say?  she 
had  all  the  pretty  arts  and  innocent  stratagems  imagin- 
able, of  mingling  serious  things  on  all  occasions,  sea- 
soning even  her  diversions  with  something  of  Religion  ; 
which,  as  she  would  manage  it,  putt  to  rebuke  all  their 
stocks  of  rayllery,  sOe  as  nothing  was  more  agreeable 
then   her   Company  where   ever  she   came.     Indeed 
there  Avas  nothing  proofe  against  the  abundance  of  her 
witt  and  piety  :  she  made  vertue  and  holyness  a  chear- 
full  thing,  lovely  as  her  selfe ;  and  ever?  ia  the  Court, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  109 


how  many  of  the  greatest  there,  were  made  to  looke 
upon  Rehgion  as  a  serious  thing,  yett  consistent  with 
their  post.  Butt  this  I  need  not  recount  to  your  Lady- 
shipp,  there  are  yett  some  (and  more  I  wish  there  were) 
who  owe  the  tincture  to  this  Lady,  and  wih,  I  hope, 
retaine  it ;  soe  as,  if  ever  it  were  an  holy  Court,  'twas 
when  this  Saint  was  the  life  of  it.  'Twere  easy  to 
shew  whome,  by  her  Councell  and  address,  she  had 
rescued  some  from  fatall  precipices  in  that  giddy  Sta- 
tion ;  others,  whome  she  has  instructed,  that  were  Ig- 
norant or  careless ;  some,  that  she  sained  to  a  severe 
Course,  who  were  listning  to  folly  and  mine :  in  a 
word,  it  was  the  pleasure  of  her  life  and  the  buissness 
of  the  day,  to  cast  about  how  she  might  improve  it  to 
those  advantages.  O,  were  the  Courts  of  Princes 
adorn'd  and  furnish'd  with  such  a  Circle  wee  should 
call  it  Heaven  on  Earth,  and  converse  with  Angells. 
Butt,  to  justifye  this  and  all  that  I  have  affirmed  con- 
cerning the  piety  of  her  thoughts,  the  passion  she  had 
to  improve  others,  the  richness  of  her  Invention,  natu- 
rall  Eloquence,  and  beauty  of  her  Style,  I  have  no 
more  to  doe  then  to  mind  your  Ladyshipp  of  a  Letter, 
written  by  this  Saint,  when  she  was  now  gone  from 
Court,  of  which  I  am  well  assured  you  are  best  acc- 
quainted,  and  can  yett  perhapps  produce  the  orriginall ; 
for  my  part  I  never  read  it  butt  I  looke  vpon  it  as  in- 
spired with  an  appostolick  spiritt. 

*'  Deare  Children,  since  you  are  both  soe  lowly  in 
your  owne  Eyes,  as  to  make  use  of  me  in  a  thing 
which  either  of  you  would  have  done  better,  butt  that 
you    distrust  your   selfes, — namely   the   paraphrases 


1  10  THE    LIFE    OF 


vpon  the  prayer  lately  sent  you,  I  thought  my  selfe 
obliged  deepely  to  consider  it  againe,  and  having  done 
soe,  cannolt  satisfy  my  selfe,  unless  I  sett  downe  with 
Pen  and  Ink  what  my  opinion  is  of  it.  As  to  your 
dressing,  I  can't  beleive  the  Doctor  meant  there  should 
be  any  neglect  of  that  beauty  God  has  given  you,  soe 
it  be  done  with  this  Caution,  first  that  you  designe  to 
captivate  none  for  any  satisfaction  you  take  in  the 
number  of  Lovers  or  in  the  Noise  of  a  larger  traine  of 
Admirers  than  other  young  w^omen  have,  butt  purely 
for  an  honest  designe  of  disingageing  your  selves  as 
soone  as  you  can  from  the  place  you  are  in,  in  an 
honorable  way ;  and  when  ever  you  see  any  young 
Man,  whome  in  your  hearts  you  cannot  beleive  will 
prove  that  person  I  speak  of,  or  any  marryed  Man, 
whome  you  know  cannot,  with  such  a  one  St.  Paul 
sayes,  you  ought  not  to  converse  in  the  least ;  I  meane, 
if  possible  to  be  avoided,  and  in  this  age,  you  know, 
women  are  not  soe  wonderfully  solicited  that  have  the 
vertue  and  modesty  of  you  two.  That  good  service 
the  Ladys  of  other  principles  have  done  you,  that  men 
sooner  find  their  Error,  and  without  much  difficulty 
suspected  conversations  may.  be  avoided. 

"Indeed,  it  would  be  a  most  dreadful  sight  att  the 
last  day,  to  see  any  man  condemned  upon  your  ac- 
counts ;  and  yett  such  a  thing  may  be,  and  yett  you 
honest ;  for  if  you  willingly  consent  men  should  looke 
upon  you  and  follow  you,  you  are  accessary  to  that 
sinn  in  St.  Mathew,  '  Who  ever  lookes  on  a  woman  to 
lust  after  her,  hath  committed  Adultery  with  her  all- 
ready  in  his  heart.'     Soe  that  my  opinion  is,  that  man- 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  Ill 


kind,  if  they  make  any  particular  applications,  tho' 
they  don't  make  love,  be,  as  much  as  you  can,  avoided. 
As  to  your  Conversation,  there  is  nothing  forbidden  butt 
what  is  either  prophane,  or  unjust,  or  indevout;  I 
meane,  the  encourageing  of  any  of  that  in  others,  by 
seemeing  well  pleased  with  it.  'Tis  true,  wee  should 
not  preach  in  the  withdrawing  Roome,  butt  wee  must, 
by  our  lookes,  shew  that  wee  fear  God,  and  that  wee 
dare  not  hear  any  thing  to  his  prejudice,  nor  any  thing 
filthy,  or  that  tends  to  the  prejudice  of  our  Neighbour ; 
and  where  any  of  these  are  found,  there,  as  much  as 
ever  wee  can,  to  avoid  them.  As  to  what  wee  say  our 
selves,  the  same  Rules  are  to  be  observed ;  and  wee 
must  take  care  that  wee  talke  not  to  be  the  wittiest  in 
the  Company ;  to  accquire  praise  to  ourselves  above 
our  Neighbours.  Wee  may  divert  people,  and  be  in- 
nocently merry ;  but  then  wee  must  not  designe  praise 
to  our  selves,  nor  please  our  selves  (if  wee  have  it)  in 
the  thoughts  of  it,  butt  in  some  short  and  silent  prayer, 
desire  God  to  keepe  us  low  in  our  owne  Eyes,  as 
'  Lord,  make  me  poore  in  spiritt,  that  I  may  inheritt 
the  kingdome  of  Heaven,'  or  by  calling  to  mind  that 
saying  of  St.  Paul,  '  What  hast  thou  which  thou  didst 
not  receive,  and  if  thou  hast  received  it,  why  dost  thou 
boast?'  In  short,  wee  must  talke,  to  divert  others,  not 
to  gaine  applause  to  our  selves,  and  if  there  be  any 
that  are  able  and  willing  to  doe  it,  lett  us  not  be  im- 
patient to  preferr  them  before  us.  Butt  this  is  butt 
sometymes  to  be  done  ;  'tis  not  a  fault  if  you  should 
not  allwayes  be  soe  willing  to  keep  silence  whilst  others 
speake. 


112  THE    LIFE    OF 


"  As  to  your  retirement  after  you  come  in,  'tis  only 
to  examine  the  day,  and  if  you  have  been  faulty,  in  all 
humility  to  acknowledge  it  to  AUmighty  God,  and  what 
ever  the  fault  has  been,  to  read  some  portion  of  Scrip- 
ture which  concerns  it,  if  you  can  find  any  ;  if  not,  to 
read  some  Chapter  in  St.  John's  Gospell,  especially  the 
15,  or  16,  or  17th,  (fee.  that  doe  most  divinely  sett  forth 
the  Love  of  God  to  us.  The  reason  why  I  urge  this, 
is,  that  your  sorrow  for  sin  may  proceed  from  the  sence 
you  have  of  God's  great  mercy  and  love  to  us ;  and 
that  Consideration  will  melt  your  hearts,  and  keepe 
you  close,  and  make  you  desire  to  draw  near  him  ;  but 
Hell  terrifyes,  and  damnation  amazes,  and  I  am  never 
the  better  for  those  reflections. 

"  And  after  this  is  pass'd,  you  both  being  Good,  and 
friends  as  well  as  Sisters,  will  doe  well  to  contrive  to- 
geather  how  you  may  defeate  the  Divell,  and  make 
Solomon's  words  true,  that  '  two  are  better  than  one.' 
After  this,  in  God's  name,  I  know  no  harme, — if  your 
devotions  of  the  day  and  task  that  you  assigne  your 
selves  are  over, — butt  that  you  may  be  as  chearfull  as 
your  Innocence  can  make  you,  which  in  both  is  very 
great. 

*•  As  to  one  particular  in  the  dress,  I  think  I  have 
not  spoken  concerneing  the  expensive  part.     Butt  that 

only  concerns ,  and  Mrs. ,  whose  purses  are 

small,  that  they  take  care,  upon  noe  account  whatsoever, 
they  exceed  what  their  pension  is,  for  noe  duty  to  the 
Q^ueene,  in  makeing  a  shew  behind  her,  can  excuse  one 
fmm  Justice  to  our  Neighbour,  before  that  God  in  whose 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  1  13 


presence  wee  walke,  and  [who]  will  avenge  the  Cause 
of  the  wronged.  Butt  I  am  sencible  not  only  this  last, 
butt  all  I  have  said,  has  been  not  onely  (as  to  my  part) 
silly,  butt  as  to  yours,  superfluous,  only  Love  and 
Goodwill  I  dare  say  will  plead  my  excuse  before  two 
soe  good  young  Creatures  for  a  greater  fault  than  this, 
and  therefore  not  doubting  but  I  am  forgiven,  I  will 
[end]  with  a  prayer  drawne  from  the  Sermon  wee 
heard  this  morning. 

''  That  you  two,  who  have  soe  gloriously  and  soe 
resolutely  sett  your  selves  to  serve  God  in  your  younger 
dayes,  may  continue  to  be  still  what  you  are,  examples 
of  vertue  and  modesty  in  a  Court,  dutifull  to  your 
Misstress,  obedient  and  loveing  to  your  Mother,  affec- 
tionate to  each  other,  and  charitable  to  all  the  world. 
Besides,  may  you  be  wise  virgins,  haveing  Oyle  in 
your  Lamps  ready  prepar'd  to  meete  the  Bridegroome. 
May  you  be  burning  and  shineing  lights  in  the  midst 
of  a  crooked  and  perverse  Generation,  and  as  the  Minis- 
ter said  this  day,  '  May  you,  as  Samuel,  and  David, 
Josiah,  Timothy,  and  St.  John,  be  wholly  dedicated  to 
Gods  Service,  as  was  the  first;  zealous  for  his  Glory, 
as  was  the  second  ;  constantly  seeking  the  God  of  your 
fathers,  as  was  the  third;  well  instructed  in  Scrip- 
tures, as  was  the  fourth  ;  and  at  last  may  you  (as  St. 
John  was)  be  admitted  into  the  Bosome  of  our  Dear 
Jesus,  where  you  will  have  your  short  youth  turned 
into  Eternity,  your  earthly  treasure  to  an  heavenly, 
and  your  worldly  greatness  and  power  exchang'd  for  a 
Crowne  of  Glory.'     Amen  with  all  my  heart." 


114  THE    LIFE    OF 


And  now,  O  blessed  Saint,  how  dost  thou  shine 
above  !  What  a  Circle  of  Starrs  diadems  thy  Temples  ! 
what  a  Jubilation  amongst  the  Angells  at  thy  access 
into  the  Glorious  Hierarchy  !  Verily,  Madam,  I  have 
had  thoughts  above  the  world,  when  I  sometymes  con- 
sidered the  life  of  this  excellent  Creature,  her  rare  ex- 
amples, happy  success,  and  the  fruites  which  have  been 
planted  and  cultivated  by  her  holy  Industrye  and  la- 
bour of  Love,  were  it  by  her  beauty,  by  her  witt,  her 
Conversation,  her  prayers  and  devotions,  her  zeal  and 
pious  Insinuations,  her  example  or  peculiar  addresse ; 
being  wily,  she  caught  them  by  Craft,  and  as  I  said, 
I  would  sometymes  call  her  the  fisheress  of  her  sex. 
What  shall  I  add  ?  She  was  fortunate  in  all  she  sett 
her  hand  to,  because  she  laid  out  all  these  perfections 
in  the  service  of  God,  the  winning  of  soules  ;  and  great, 
great  is  her  reward. 

Nor  did  this  confine  her  only  to  the  Court,  amongst 
the  Great.  1  have  allready  told  how  diligently  she 
would  inquire  out  the  poore  and  miserable,  even  [in] 
Hospitalls,  humble  Cells  and  Cottages,  whither  I  have 
sometymes  accompanied  her,  as  farr  as  the  very  skirts 
and  obscure  places  of  the  Towne,  among  whom  she 
not  only  [gave]  liberal  I  almes,  but  physitians  and  phy- 
sick  she  would  send  to  some,  yea,  and  administer  Re- 
medyes  herselfe,  and  the  meanest  offices.  She  would 
sit  and  read,  instruct  and  pray,  whole  afternoones,  and 
tooke  care  for  their  spiritual  1  releif  by  procureing  a 
Minister  of  Religion  to  prepare  them  for  the  holy  Sa- 
crament, for  which  purpose  she  not  only  carryed  and 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  115 


gave  them  bookes  of  Salvation  and  Devotion,  but  had 
herselfe  collected  diverse  Psalmes  and  Chapters  proper 
to  be  read  and  used  vpon  such  occasions.  How  many 
naked  poore  Creatures  she  covered  !  I  have  by  me  one 
List  of  no  fewer  then  twenty  three,  whome  she  cladd 
at  one  tyme ;  and  your  Ladyshipp  may  remember, 
and  I  have  allready  noted,  for  whome  she  wrought 
with  her  owne  hands. 

To  assist  her  then  in  the  disposeing  of  these  and 
inumerable  other  Charityes,  there  was  a  poore  religious 
Widdow,  whome  your  Ladyshipp  knew  she  had  a 
more  particular  Confidence  in.  How  she  found  her 
out,  I  never  informed  my  selfe,  but  well  remember  a 
passage  of  something  exterordinary  that  happened 
to  her  concerning  a  Voice  which  she  solemnly  affirmed 
had  spoken  to  her,  being  once  att  prayers  in  the  Church 
and  in  great  distress.  I  shall  say  nothing  as  to  that, 
but  that  it  was  this  pious  and  humble  Creature,  whose 
diligence  she  vsed,  to  informe  her  of  sick  and  miserable 
people,  who  accompanyed  her  to  their  Habitations,  and 
brought  them  Cioathes,  Mony  and  Medicines,  and 
whereof  they  spent  whole  dayes  in  devotion  togeather. 
By  her  it  was  she  distributed  weekly  pensions,  looked 
after  orphan  Children,  put  them  to  schoole,  visitted  the 
prisons,  out  of  which  (amongst  diverse  others,)  she  had 
redeemed  a  dissolute  son  of  hers,  that  cost  a  very  con- 
siderable summe,  as  she  had  paid  the  debts,  and  in- 
deed wholly  maintained  the  Mother  to  her  dyeing  day, 
though  being  taken  with  a  dead  palsy,  and  in  a  man- 
ner bed  ridden,  a  year  or  two  before.  She  survived  her 
Benefactress,  but  not  her  bounty  :  thus  when  she  went 


116  THE    LIFE    OF 


into  Ffrance,  she  ordered  me  to  continue  many  other 
pensions  which  she  gave,  and  I  could  give  you  an 
account  of  what  house  rent  she  paid  for  indigent  hons- 
keepers,  what  Apprentices  she  put  forth,  and  your 
Ladyshipp  remembers,  and  I  have  aUready  touched, 
the  little  Child  she  kept  allwayes  with  her,  and  cher- 
ished to  the  last.  Soe  sedulous  was  she  in  these  acts 
of  Charity,  that  from  the  tyme  I  could  calculate,  she 
had  begun  and  persisted  in  this  Course  from  a  Child 
her  selfe  :  and  for  the  last  7  Years  of  her  life,  1  can 
speake  of  my  owne  knowledge,  that  her  liberality  was 
soe  disproportion'd  to  her  Revenue,  that  I  have  some- 
tymes  called  it  profusion,  at  which  she  would  smile, 
and  bid  me  take  no  care.  What  she  herselfe  distribut- 
ed more  privately  I  know  not,  but  sure  I  am  it  was  a 
great  deale  more  then  ever  she  would  discover,  takeing 
all  the  Cautions  imaginable,  that  nothing  she  did  of 
this  nature  should  be  knowne,  no  not  to  her  left  hand 
what  her  right  hand  did,  and  therefore  often  would  she 
herselfe  walk  out  alone  and  on  foote,  and  fasting,  and 
in  midst  of  winter,  (when  it  was  hardly  fitt  to  send  a 
servant  out,)  to  minister  to  some  poore  creatures  she 
had  found  out,  and  perhaps  whome  no  body  knew  of 
besides,  soe  far  had  her  love  to  God  and  piety  to  others 
overcome  nature  and  the  delicate  tenderness  of  her  sex 
and  constitution. 

See  then  what  I  find  in  her  Diarye,  among  the  Re- 
solutions (as  I  said)  she  was  wont  to  set  downe  in  her 
owne  hand.  It  seemes  she  had  lost  at  Cards  (a  diver- 
sion which  she  affected  not,  but  to  comply  with  others, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  117 


when  sometymes  she  could  not  avoid  it).     Behold,  Ma- 
dam, with  what  remorse,  with  what  discretion. 

"  June  the  2d. 

''  I  will  never  play  this  halfe  year  butt  att  3  penny 
omber,  and  then  with  one  att  halves.  I  will  not ;  I 
doe  not  vow,  but  1  will  not  doe  it, — what,  loose  mony 
att  Cards,  yett  not  give  the  poore?  'Tis  robbing  God, 
misspending  tyme,  and  missimploying  my  Talent : 
three  great  Sinns.  Three  pounds  would  have  kept 
three  people  from  starveing  a  month :  well,  I  will  not 
play." 

Here  is  a  blessed  Creature.     'Tis  in  this  pretious 
Manuscript  that  I  find  an  account  of  the  particular 
mercy es  she  had  received  from  God,  amongst  which 
that  he  had  given  soe  religious  a  Mother,  such  good 
breeding,  early  receiveing  the  blessed  sacrament,  the 
prayers  of  holy  people  for  her,  and  assistance  of  a 
spirittuall  Guide,  which  (sayes  she)  I  am  confident 
was  the  reward  of  my  receiveing  at  the  Charter  house. 
I  take  notice  of  it  here,  because  'tis  there  she  blessed 
God  that  she  had  been  serviceable,  both  to  poore  and 
Rich,  in  that  he  had  been  pleased  to  make  her  his  In- 
strument, and  soe  goes  on  to  thank  him  for  the  many 
personall  dangers  and  accidents  she  had  escaped,  all 
which  she  particularizes.     But  to  returne  to  her  Chari- 
tyes,  (than  which  I  know  no  greater  marke  of  a  con- 
svmimate  Christian,)  I  may  not  omit  that  other  branch 
of  it,  her  visitting  and  releaseing  of  prisoners,  of  which 
I  think  I  can  produce  a  list  of  above  thirty  restrained 
for  debts  in  severall  prisons,  which  she  paid  and  com- 


118  THE    LIFE    OF 


pounded  for  at  once.  Nor  were  these  (as  I  said)  sud- 
den fitts  of  devotion,  but  her  continued  practice,  and 
such  as  tooke  up  a  considerable  portion  of  her  Hfe ; 
and  such  infinite  satisfaction  tooke  she  in  this  blessed 
Imploymentj  as  that  often  have  I  knowne  her  pri- 
vately slipp  away  and  breake  from  the  gay  and  pub- 
lique  Company,  the  greatest  entertainments,  and  great- 
est persons  too  of  the  Court,  to  make  a  stepp  to  some 
miserable  poore  sick  Creature,  whilst  those  she  quitted 
have  wondered  why  she  went  from  the  conversation  ; 
and  more  they  would,  had  they  seen  how  the  sceene 
was  chang'd  from  a  Kingly  palace  to  some  meane  cot- 
tage, from  the  Company  of  princes  to  poore  necessitous 
wretches,  when  by  and  by  she  would  returne  as  chear- 
fuU  and  in  good  humour,  as  if  she  had  been  about 
some  worldly  concerne,  and  excuse  her  absence  in  the 
most  innocent  manner  imaginable.  Never  must  I  for- 
gett  the  infinite  pleasure  she  tooke  in  doeing  Charityes. 
'Twas.one  day  that  I  was  with  her,  when  seeing  a 
poore  Creatnre  in  the  streets,  "  Now,"  sayes  she  to  me, 
"  how  will  I  make  that  miserable  wretch  rejoyce." 
Upon  which  she  sent  him  ten  tymes  more  than  I  am 
confident  he  ever  could  expect.  This  she  spake,  not 
as  boasting,  but  soe  as  one  might  perceive  her  very 
soule  lifted  up  in  secret  Joy,  to  consider  how  the  mis- 
erable man  would  be  made  happy  with  the  surprize. 
Soe  as  summing  all  these  Instances  together,  I  might 
well  compare  this  Lady  to  those  excellent  persons 
whose  praise  is  in  the  Gospell,  and  whose  names  (St. 
Paull  assures  us.  Acts  x.  2,)  are  written  in  the  booke 
of  life,  being  like  Cornelius  and  Dorcas,  full  of  good 
works  and  Almes  Deeds  which  she  did  ;  as  Priscilla, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  119 


she  instructed  many  more  perfectly  in  the  wayes  of 
God  ;  as  Mary,  she  bestowed  much  labour  ;  nor  doe  I 
ever  think  of  her  but  I  call  to  mind  the  Phebes,  and 
Triphosas,  Julia  and  Olympia,  Claudia  and  to  whome 
the  Appostle  would  certainly  have   added  Margarita, 
(this  pearle  of  ours.)  had  she  been  then  in  the  world, 
who  were  servants  of  the  Churches,  snccourers  of  the 
Saints,  helpers  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  who  were  even 
ready  to  lay  downe  their  lives  for  the  Gospell.     Soe 
flagrant  was  her  zeale,  soe  pure  her  Charitye,  soe  ve- 
hement and  sincere  her  love  to  God,  as  often  to  quitt 
the  Ease  and  pleasures  of  life,  and  dismiss  the  Diver- 
sions of  a  Court,  to  possess  those  Divine  and  supernall 
pleasures  of  doeing  good,  and  the  blessing  of  him  that 
was  ready  to  perish  came  upon  her  who  caused  the 
widows  heart  to  sing  for  Joy,  for  she  was  eyes  to  the 
blind,  and  feet  to  the  Lame,  in  all  things,  shewing  her- 
selfe  a  patterne  of  good  workes.     In  a  word,  her  life 
did  soe  shine  before  Men,  that  those  who  saw  her  good 
workes  could  not  butt  be  stirred  up  to  glorifye  God  ;  yet 
by  grace  we  are  saved   through  faith,  and  not  of  our 
selves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God,  not  of  workes,  lest  any 
man  should  boast,  for  we  are  his  workmanship,  created 
in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good  workes,  which  God  hath  be- 
fore ordained  that  we  should  walke  in  them. 

And  now  after  all  this,  I  need  noe  more  produce 
her  Diarye,  haveing  given  your  Ladyshipp  so  minute 
an  Account  of  her  life  and  actions,  I  shall  onely  add, 
that  to  the  particulars  of  the  Mercyes  she  received, 
Resolutions  made,  and  Graces  which  she  desired,  she 
composed  many  excellent  Prayers,  Praises,  and  Devo- 


120  THE    LIFE    OF 


tioiis,  pertinent  to  the  occasion,  and  to  which  I  might 
subjoine  the  wonderfull  Condescension,  akeady  noted, 
in  constantly  giveing  me  once  a  year  a  httle  history  of 
her  life,  and  what  had  happened  of  most  concerne  in 
her  particular,  what  faileings,  and  Improvements  she 
was  sencible  of,  with  an  Ingenuitye  exterordnary,  and 
breathing  a  pious  friendshipp,  desireing  my  direction 
and  my  prayers,  which  a  thousand  tymes  I  needed 
more  than  she,  who  had,  (as  your  ^Ladyshipp  well 
knows,  and  is  ah'eady  noted)  a  Ghostly  father,  with 
whome  frequently  corresponding,  she  constantly  re- 
ceived proper  Ministeryes  and  advice  in  matters  cog- 
nizable to  that  sacred  Character.  To  him  it  was  she 
often  revealed  her  Conscience,  as  from  a  Child  she 
before  had  done  to  a  devout  and  learned  prelate  of  our 
Church,  by  the  exterordnary  Care  of  his  [her?]  pious 
and  excellent  Mother,  as  herself  has  told  me,  lookeing 
on  it  as  the  greatest  blessing  she  had  ever  left  her. 

And  thus,  Madam,  I  have,  according  to  the  best  of 
my  poore  ability,  complyed  with  your  Ladyshipp's 
comands,  and  given  you  the  Life  of  this  Incomparable 
Lady  :  which  though  I  may  not  have  performed  to  the 
heiglit  and  merit  of  the  subject,  I  have  yet  me-thinks 
paid  an  obhgation  to  the  memory  of  one  you  loved, 
and  that  honoured  me  with  friendship  never  to  be  for- 
gotten, since  it  let  me  into  a  Conversation  of  soe  great 
advantage.  In  a  word,  to  justifye  what  I  present  your 
Ladyshipp,  and  summ  up  all.  I  have  been  oft  par- 
taker of  her  sadness  and  brighter  dayes,  wittness  of 
her  devoutest  Recollections,  accurate  and  exterordinary 
preparations,  ardent  Zeale,  and  unwearyed  Devotions, 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  121 


chearfull  and  even  profusive  Charityes  and  labours  of 
Love,  for  her  secular  concerns  was  only  in  order  to 
Spirituall. 

In  summe. 

Never  was  there  a  more  unspotted  virgin,  a  more 
loyall  wife,  a  more  sincere  friend,  a  more  consummate 
Christian  ;  add  to  this,  a  florid  youth,  an  exquisite  and 
naturall  beauty,  and  gracefullness  the  most  becomeing. 
Nor  was  she  to  be  disguised  :  there  was  nothing  more 
quick  and  peircing  than  her  apprehension,  nothing 
more  faithfull  than  her  memory,  more  solid  and  mature 
than  her  Judgment,  insomuch  as  I  have  heard  her 
husband  affirme  to  me  (whose  discernment  all  that 
have  the  honour  to  know  him  will  allow  to  be  exter- 
ordinary)  that  even  in  the  greatest  difficultyes  and  oc- 
casions, he  has  both  asked  and  preferred  her  advice 
with  continuall  success,  and  with  those  solid  parts  she 
had  all  the  advantages  of  a  most  sparkling  witt,  a 
naturall  Eloquence,  a  gentle  and  agreeable  tone  of 
voice,  and  a  charmeing  accent  when  she  spake,  whilst 
the  Charmes  of  her  countenance  were  made  up  of  the 
greatest  Innocence,  modesty,  and  goodness  Imaginable, 
agreeable  to  the  Composure  of  her  thoughts,  and  the 
union  of  a  thousand  perfections :  add  to  all  this,  she 
was  Just,  Invincible,  secrett,  ingeniously  sinceere, 
faithfull  in  her  promises,  and  to  a  Miracle,  temperate, 
and  mistress  of  her  passions  and  resolutions,  and  soe 
well  had  she  imployed  her  spann  of  tyme,  that  as  oft 
as  I  consider  how  much  she  knew,  and  writt,  and  did, 
I  am  plainly  astonished,  and  blush  even  for  my  selfe. 

7 


122  THE    LIFE    OF 


O  how  delightfull  entertaining  was  this  Lady,  how 
grave  her  discourse,  how  unUke  the  conversation  of 
her  sex,  when  she  was  the  most  facetious,  it  would 
allwayes  end  in  a  chearfull  composcdness  the  most  be- 
comeing  in  the  world,  for  she  was  the  tenderest  Crea- 
ture living  of  taking  advantage  of  anothers  Imperfec- 
tions ;  nothing  could  be  more  humble  and  full  of 
Compassion,  nothing  more  disposed  to  all  offices  of 
kindness.  In  a  word,  what  perfections  were  scatered 
amongst  others  of  her  sex,  seem'd  here  to  be  united, 
and  she  went  every  day  improveing,  shineing  brighter, 
and  ascending  still  in  vertue. 

I  should  here  add  something  concerning  the  obse- 
quies and  funerall  of  this  blessed  Saint,  on  which  occa- 
sion is  not  to  be  omitted,  the  earnest  request  she  soe 
provisionally  made,  that  she  might  be  interred  in  the 
Dormitorye  of  her  husband's  family  and  Relations,  tho' 
it  were  not  much  less  then  three  hundred  miles  distance 
from  the  place  where  she  was  borne  and  bred,  that  soe 
her  ashes  might  hereafter  be  mingPd  with  his  whome  so 
intirely  she  loved  ;  and  which,  after  her  Corps  had  been 
embalm'd  and  wrapt  in  Lead,  was  (as  your  Ladyshipp 
knows)  as  religiously  perform'd,  decently  and  with 
much  honour,  but  without  pomp  or  ostentation,  on  the 
16th  day  of  September,  1G78,  in  the  Church  of  Bre- 
ague,  in  the  parish  of  Godolphin,  in  Cornwall,  of  which 
that  family  have  been  Lords  and  of  illustrious  name 
both  before  and  since  the  Conquest ;  and  where,  being 
alive,  she  had  often  in  my  hearing  expressed  such  a 
longing  desire  to  have  passed  the  rest  of  her  dayes,  that, 
being  remote  from  the  noise  of  Cittyes,  Courts,  and  the 


MRS.     GODOLPHIN.  J  23 


subjecting  Impertinences  attending  them,  she  might  in- 
tirely  vacate  [to]  the  service  of  God  :  not  but  wherever 
she  hved  she  did  it  as  much  as  ever  any  blessed  Crea- 
ture did,  but  because  she  fancyed  she  should  doe  it 
better  there,  which  was  impossible. 

Here  then  let  us  leave  our  Saint  at  rest,  but  our 
selves  at  none,  till  by  following  her  example  wee  arrive 
at  that  blessed  repose  whether  she  is  gone  before. 

For  thou  (deare  Soule)  to  Heavens  fledd, 
Hast  all  the  vertices  with  thee,  thither  ledd^ 

Wee  here  see  thee  no  more. 
Thou  to  that  bright  and  glorious  place 
Art  runn^  hast  won  the  Race  : 

A  Crowne  of  Rayes, 

And  never  fadeiiig  Bayes, 
Such  as  on  Heaven's  Parnassus  grows^ 

Deck  thyne  Angelick  Brows  ; 
A  Robe  of  Righteousness  about  thee  cast. 
Bathed  in  Celestiall  Bliss,  thou  there  dost  tast 

Pleasures  att  God^s  right  hand. 

Pleasures  that  ever  last^ 
And  greater  then  wee  here  can  vnderstand, 
Butt  are  for  such  as  serve  him  best  reserved  in  store. 

2. 

How  long,  Lord,  ah  !  how  long 

Wate  wee  below  ! 
Our  soden  feete  stick  in  the  Clay, 
Wee  thro^  the  bodye!s  Dungeon  see  no  day. 
Sorrows  on  sorrows  throng, 


124  THE    LIFE    OF 


Friendshipps  {the  souls  of  life)  and  frends  depart 
To  other  worlds^  and  neio  Relations  know. 
Ah  !  thou  who  art 
The  starry  orbs  above 
Essentiall  love, 
Reach  forth  thy  grations  hand^ 
And  send  me  wings  for  flight, 
Sett  Tne  vpon  that  holy  Land, 
O  bring  me  to  the  happy  shoare 

Where  no  dark  night 
Obscure  the  day,  where  all  is  light ; 
A  Citty  there  not  w.ade  with  hands, 
Within  the  blissfull  Region  stands. 
Where  wee  in  every  streete 
Our  dearest  friends  againe  shall  meete, 
And  friendshipps  m^ore  reflri'd  and  siueete, 
And  never  loose  them,  rnore. 

Amen, 


Finis. 


MRS.    GODOLPHIN.  125 


EPITAPH. 

In  Margaritam  Epitaphium. 

Here  lyes  a  pearle  none  snch  the  ocean  yields 
In  all  the  Treasures  of  his  liquid  fields  : 
Butt  such  as  that  luise  Merchant  wisely  sought 
Who  the  bright  Gemin  with  all  his  substance  bought. 
Such  to  Jerusalem  above  translates 
Our  Godj  fadorne  the  Entrance  of  her  gates. 
The  Spouse  with  such  Einbrodery  does  come 
To  meete  her  Nuptialls  the  Celestiall  Groome, 

On  the  copper  plate  sothered  on  the  Coffinn. 


NOTES. 

Page  1. 

LAD  Y  S  YL  VIUS.  Anne,  daughter  of  William  Howard, 
fourth  son  of  Thomas,  first  Earl  of  Berkshire,  and  wife  of  Sir 
Gabriel  Sylvius.     See  Table  IV. 

P.  3.  "  An  ancient  Suffolke  family.''^  See  Table  I.  and 
note  attached  to  it. 

P.  3.  "  Mrs.  Blagge.''''     See  the  same  table. 

P.  4.  "  Bishop  of  Ely y  Dr.  Peter  Gunning,  Bishop  of  Chi- 
chester in  1669,  Bishop  of  Ely  in  1674,  who  "  can  do  nothing 
but  what  is  well."— Z^mry,  Feb.  23,  1673. 

P.  5.  "  Old  Duchess  of  Richmond.''^  Mary  Villiers,  sister 
of  George,  second  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  widow  of  James 
Stuart,  third  Duke  of  Richmond.     See  Table  III. 

P.  5.  "  late  Countess  of  Guilford.''''  Elizabeth  Fielding, 
cousin  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  and  of  the  Duchess  of 
Richmond.     See  Table  III. 

P.  5.  "  Groom  of  the  Stoole,"  (Gustos  Stolae.)  The  Coun- 
tess of  Guilford  was  succeeded,  as  "  groom  of  the  stole"  to 
Henrietta  Maria,  by  Lady  Arlington  (Isabella  de  Nassau,  who 
afterwards  married  Henry  Fitzroy,  first  Duke  of  Grafton).  At 
a  later  period,  in  1704,  the  Duchess  of  Marlborough  was  ap- 
pointed "  Groom  of  the  Stole"  to  dueen  Anne,  but  the  title  of 
her  office  was  changed  to  "  Mistress  of  the  Robes."  Elizabeth, 
the  heiress  of  the  great  house  of  Percy  and  wife  of  Charles,  (the 
proud)  Duke  of  Somerset,  was  made  "  Groom  of  the  Stole"  in 
1710.  Since  the  accession  of  the  House  of  Hanover,  the  title 
of  •'  Groom  of  the  Stole."  has  been  given,  I  believe,  exclusively, 
to  the  principal  noble  attendant  on  the  person  of  the  King,  and 


128  NOTES. 


now,  of  the  Prince  Consort.  In  p.  56  Lord  Rochester  is  called 
Master  of  the  Robes,  and  Godolphin  himself  was  appointed  to 
that  office  in  July,  1767.  In  some  French  memoirs,  the  title 
has  been  spelled  "  Grumstul,"  and  a  singular  perversion  of  its 
meaning  may  be  seen  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Comte  deBrienne. 

P.  5.  "  the  late  Queen's  mother.''''  An  error  for  Queen-mo- 
ther:  viz.  Henrietta  Maria,  who  died  Aug.  10,  1669. 

P.  5.  "  the  then  Duchess  of  York.''^  Anne  Hyde,  daughter 
of  the  Lord  Chancellor  Clarendon,  and  first  wife  of  James, 
Duke  of  Vork,  afterwards  James  II. 

P.  6.  «  till  the  Duchess  clied:^    March  31,  1671. 

P.  10.  "  My  Lady  Falmouth."  Elizabeth  (or  Mary  ?)  Ba- 
got,  daughter  of  Hervey  Bagot,  who  had  been  one  of  the  maids 
of  honour  to  the  Duchess  of  York,  and  who  was  at  this  time  the 
widow  of  Charles  Berkeley,  first  Viscount  Fitzhardinge  and 
Earl  of  Falmouth,  killed  in  the  sea-fight  with  the  Dutch,  June 
3,  1665.  Pepys  calls  her,  in  1666,  "  a  pretty  woman  ;  she  was 
now  in  her  second  or  third  mourning,  and  pretty  pleasant  in  her 
looks."  In  July  1667,  he  says  that  she  was  about  to  marry 
young  Jermyn :  she  however  married,  for  her  second  husband, 
Charles  Sackville,  Earl  (afterwards  created  Duke)  of  Dorset. 
See  Table  II. 

P.  1 2.  "  Some  play  to  be  acted  by  the  maids  of  honour.'''' 
See  an  account  of  what  took  place  on  Dec.  15,  1674. 

P.  12.  "  Duchess  of  Monmouth.''''  The  Lady  Anne  Scot, 
daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Francis,  Earl  of  Buccleuch,  wife 
of  James,  Duke  of  Monmouth,  who  was  beheaded  July  15, 
1685. 

P.  12.  ''  That  ofMicha,''  rather  Malachi  iii.  17. 

P.  15.  "  Our  familyes  being  neare  to  one  another.''''  The 
family  seat  of  the  Evelyns  was  at  Wotton,  in  Surrey,  where 
Evelyn  often  visited,  although  he  did  not  reside  there  till  May 
1694.  Ashted,  near  Epsom,  belonged  to  Sir  Robert  Howard, 
uncle  to  Lady  Sylvius :  Deepden,  now  Mr.  Hope's,  belonged 
to  Mr.  Charles  Howard,  ancestor  of  the  present  Duke  of  Nor- 
folk: and  Albury,  now  Mr.  Drummond's,  was  the  residence  of 
Henry  Howard,  afterwards  Duke  of  Norfolk.  All  these  places 
are  at  short  distances  from  each  other. 


NOTES.  129 


P.  15.  "  Your  inother  and  sister.''''  Mrs.  William  Howard, 
[Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Lord  Dundas]  and  Dorothy  Howard, 
afterwards  Mrs.  Graham.     See  Table  IV. 

P.  17.  "  Your  sister,  then  maid  of  honour."  See  the  last 
note. 

P.  19.  "  Paulina  and  Eu^tochius."  See  p.  34,  and  all  the 
accounts  of  St.  Jerome. 

P.  27.  "  Att  Whitehall,  whither  she  came  from  St.  James," 
to  the  Q,ueen's  service,  after  the  death  of  the  Duchess  of  York, 
in  1671. 

P.  28.    "  Mr.  Godolphin  sent  abroad.''^    In  1668  he  accom- 
panied his  brother  Sir  William  on  a  mission  to  Spain. 

P.  31.  "  At  Berkley  house."  The  splendid  mansion  built  by 
Sir  John  Berkeley  of  Bruton,  created  Lord  Berkeley  of  Strat- 
ton,  at  Hay  Hill  Farm,  in  the  parish  of  St.  James.  The  names 
and  titles  are  still  preserved  in  John^  Street,  Berkeley  Square 
and  Street,  Bruton  Street,  Stratton  Street,  Hay  Street,  Hill 
Street  and  also  Hay-hill,  Farm  Street,  and  Charles  Street, 
after  Lord  Berkeley's  brother.  Charles,  Earl  of  Falmouth. 
Part  of  the  gardens  are  still  preserved  in  those  attached  to 
Devonshire  House  and  Lansdowne  (originally  Bute)  House. 
Some  idea  of  their  extent  may  be  formed  from  this  enumera- 
tion. A  description  of  Berkeley  House  is  given  by  Evelyn  in 
his  Diary,  Sept.  25,  1672 :  no  view  of  it  is  known  to  exist. 
Pennant,  whose  error  is  copied  by  many  others,  strangely  attri- 
butes the  building  of  this  house  to  the  family  of  the  Earls  of 
Berkeley  :  of  course  the  scandalous  anecdote  introduced  by  him 
is  equally  out  of  place  with  his  more  sober  narrative  that  Chris- 
tian, Countess  of  Devonshire,  lived  •'  in  the  antient  house — on 
the  site  of  Berkeley  House,  where  she  received  Waller  and 
Denham,  and  where  she  died  in  1674,"  (Jan.  16,  1674-5.) 
Now  John,  Lord  Berkeley  of  Stratton,  the  builder  of  Berkeley 
House,  did  not  die  till  the  year  1678,  and,  after  his  death,  his 
widow  continued  to  reside  there ;  for  in  1684,  Evelyn  was  con- 
sulted by  Lady  Berkeley  of  Stratton  as  to  the  propriety  of 
building  two  streets  in  Berkeley  Gardens,  •'  reserving  the  house 
and  as  much  of  the  gardens  as  the  breadth  of  the  house,"  ap- 

7* 


130  NOTES. 


parently  Berkeley  Street  and  Stratton  Street.  After  the  death 
of  Lady  Berkeley,  the  mansion  was  inhabited  by  the  Princess 
(afterwards  Q,ueen)  Anne  until  Jan.  1695. 

The  old  town  house  of  the  Earls  of  Devonshire  was  not  in 
Piccadilly,  but  in  Bishopsgate,  where  Devonshire  Square  now 
stands;  William,  the  second  earl,  died  there  in  1628.  His 
widow.  Christian,  the  loyal  and  exemplary  Countess  of  Devon- 
shire, did  not  reside  in  London,  she  lived  and  died  a  Roehamp- 
ton  in  Surrey,  in  the  house  which  had  been  inhabited  by  Wes- 
ton, Earl  of  Portland,  and  now  belongs  to  Mr.  Robert  Gosling 
the  banker.  It  was  at  Roehampton,  not  in  Piccadilly,  that  she 
received  Waller  and  Denham.  Her  son  William,  the  third 
earl,  died  in  the  same  house  in  Nov.  1684.  His  son  William, 
the  fourth  Earl  (afterwards  created  Duke)  of  Devonshire, 
having,  at  first,  no  town  house,  rented  and  lived  in  Montague 
House  (the  British  Museum  in  Great  Russell  Street),  which 
was  burned  down  during  his  occupation  of  it  in  Jan.  1686. 
After  the  accession  of  William  IIL  "  the  Duke  of  Devonshire 
took  it  into  his  head,  that  could  he  have  the  Duchess  of  Ports- 
mouth's lodgings  (at  Whitehall)  where  there  was  a  fine  room 
for  halls^  it  would  give  him  a  very  magnificent  air."  (Duchess 
of  Marlborough's  Defence  of  her  Conduct,  p.  29.)  It  is  pro- 
bable that  the  Duke  purchased  Berkeley  House  after  1695, 
and  changed  its  name  to  Devonshire  House,  since  Bishop 
Kennet  says  he  died  Aug.  18,  1707,  in  "  Devonshire  House, 
Piccadilly.''''  The  present  Devonshire  House,  standing  cer- 
tainly on  the  site  of  Berkeley  House,  was  not  built  by  him,  but 
by  his  grandson,  the  third  duke,  some  time  after  the  year  1730. 
To  this  house  and  to  its  builder  applies  the  epigram  composed 
by  Horace  (afterwards  Lord  Walpole  of  Wolterton),  brother 
of  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  who,  calling  one  day  at  Devonshire 
House,  which  was  just  finished,  and  not  finding  the  Duke  at 
home,  left  this  epigram  upon  the  table, 

"  Ut  dominns,  domus  est ;  uon  extra  fulta  columnis 
Marmoreis  splendet ;  quod  tenet,  intus  habet." 

Sir  John  Denham,  whose  name  being  associated  with  that  of 
the  Countess  of  Devonshire  perhaps  misled  Pennant,  had  a 


NOTE3.  131 


house  and  gardens  in  Piccadilly,  where  BurHngton  House  now 
stands,  adjoining  to  which  stood  Lord  Clarendon's  famous  man- 
sion, afterwards  the  Duke  of  Albemarle's,  the  site  of  the  pre- 
sent Albemarle  Street.  Dover  Street,  and  Bond  Street.  The 
three  mansions  thus  named,  viz.  Sir  John  Denham's,  Albemarle 
House,  and  Berkeley  House,  occupied  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
north  of  Piccadilly:  the  ground  to  the  west  of  Berkeley  House 
was  divided  into  six  fields,  known  as  "  Penniless  Bank,"  '•  Little 
Brook-field,"  "  Stone  Bridge-field,"  '•  Great  Brook-field,"  "  Mr. 
Audley's  land,"  and  '•'  Shoulder  of  Mutton  field."  To  the  north, 
Berkeley  Gardens  were  bounded  by  the  land  "where  graze 
the  cows"  of  Alexander  Davies,  of  Ebury,  in  Pimlico,  whose 
daughter  and  heir,  Mary,  married  Sir  Thomas  Grosvenor  in 
1676,  and  whose  name  is  preserved  in  "  Davies  Street." 

George,  Lord  Berkeley,  of  Berkeley,  afterwards  Earl  of 
Berkeley,  lived  at  another  Berkeley  House,  in  the  parish  of  St. 
John's,  Clerkenwell,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Berkeley  Street, 
which  leads  from  St.  John's  Lane  to  Red  Lion  Street.  His 
family  had  lived  there  for  several  generations,  his  father  died 
there  Aug.  1658,  his  third  son  James  was  baptized  there,  1 
June,  1663,  and  from  the  same  house  he  writes  on  Feb.  23, 
1678,  to  Pepys,  who  on  the  previous  day  acknowledges  a  letter 
from  his  lordship  "  at  St.  Johii's.''''  (Correspondence,  vol.  v.  pp. 
42-45.)  In  Clerkenwell  also,  in  1681,  Lord  Berkeley  received 
a  deputation  (headed  by  Tillotson,  then  Dean  of  Canterbury) 
from  Sion  College,  to  which  he  had  presented  the  library  col- 
lected by  Sir  Robert  Coke,  son  of  Lord  Chief  Justice  Coke. 
From  the  Coke  family  Lord  Berkeley  inherited  Durdans,  near 
Epsom,  mentioned  as  his  residence  both  by  Ev^elyn  and  Pepys. 
Clerkenwell  has  long  since  ceased  to  be  a  fashionable  neigh- 
bourhood, but  in  the  seventeenth  century  it  possessed  the  man- 
sions of  the  Earls  of  Aylesbury,  Berkeley,  and  Northampton, 
the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  the  Challoner  family,  &c. :  Bishop 
Burnet  and  many  others  attached  to  the  court  also  resided 
there.  The  streets  are  many  of  them  named  after  their  former 
owners  or  inhabitants.  The  Marquis  of  Northampton  still  re- 
tains vast  property  in  Clerkenwell  and  Islington, 


132  NOTES. 


P.  33.  "  The  mother  of  the  maids.^^  The  Lady  Sanderson, 
wife  of  Sir  William  Sanderson. 

P.  33.  "  Your  two  sisters.^^  Apparently  an  error  for  "  you 
two  sisters."     See  Table  IV. 

P.  34.  "  My  Lady:''  Lady  Berkeley  (see  Table  IL)  was 
Christiana,  daughter  of  Sir  Andrew  Riccard,  Knight;  and 
widow  of  Henry  Rich,  Lord  Kensington,  only  son  of  Robert 
Rich,  second  Earl  of  Holland  and  fifth  Earl  of  Warwick,  by 
Elizabeth  Ingram,  his  first  wife.  Sir  Andrew  Riccard  was 
one  of  London's  richest  merchant-princes  :  he  was  President  of 
the  East  India  Company,  and  in  that  capacity  figures  in  the 
great  case  of  monopolies,  Skinner  v.  E.  I.  Company.  A  marble 
statue,  erected  to  his  honour  by  the  Turkey  Company,  of  which 
he  was  president  for  eighteen  years,  still  exists  on  his  monu- 
ment in  the  Church  of  St.  Olave,  Hart  Street.  He  was  knighted 
July  10,  1668,  and  died  Sept.  6,  1672,  aged  68. 

P.  36.  "  Her  sister,  the  Lady  Yarborough^  See  Table  I. 
It  may  suffice  here  to  state  that  this  lady,  [Henrietta  Maria 
Blagge]  whose  conduct  was  not  free  from  blame,  has  been 
mistaken  by  some  editors  of  Grammont  and  by  Horace  Wal- 
pole  for  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

P.  37.  "  The  Dean  of  Hereford:^     George  Benson. 

P.  46.  "  Frojn  Twicknam?''  "  Twickenham  Park,  Lord 
Berkeley's  country  seat,"  Diary,  March  23, 1676.  It  was  lately 
the  property  of  Mr.  Francis  Gosling,  the  banker. 

P.  50.  "  Play  at  Court  before  their  Majesties?''  "  Saw  a 
comedie  at  night  at  Court,  acted  by  the  ladies  only,  amongst 
them  Lady  Mary  and  Ann,  His  Royal  Highness'  two  daugh- 
ters, and  my  dear  friend  Mrs.  Blagg,  who  having  the  principal 
part,  performed  it  to  admiration.  They  were  all  covered  with 
jewels."  Diary,  Dec.  15,  1674.  The  play  was  "  Cahstoorthe 
Chaste  Nymph,"  by  John  Crowne.  It  was  printed  in  1675, 
and  a  copy  is  preserved  in  the  library  of  the  British  Museum. 
After  the  title-page  is  a  list  of  the  performers,  all  of  whom 
however  did  not  bear,  at  the  time  of  acting  the  play,  the  titles 
which  the  printed  list  gives  to  them.  The  list  is  as  follows : 
Calisto,  a  chaste  and  favourite  nymph  of  Diana,  beloved  by 


NOTES.  133 


Jupiter.     "  Her  Highness  the  Lady  Mary,"  a  daughter  of  the 
Duke  of  York,  and  afterwards  Q,ueen  of  England. 

Nyphe,  a  chaste  young  nymph,  friend  to  Cahsto.  "  Her 
Highness  tJie  Lady  Anne,"  a  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  York, 
and  afterwards  Q,ueen  of  England. 

Jupiter,  in  love  with  Calisto.  "  The  Lady  Henrietta  Went- 
worth,"  rather  Henrietta,  Baroness  Wentworth,  which  dignity 
descended  to  her  on  the  death,  in  1665,  of  her  father,  Thomas 
Wentworth,  last  Earl  of  Cleveland.  She  is  well  known  from 
her  disgraceful  connexion  at  a  later  period  with  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth,  whom  she  did  not  long  survive,  dying  on  April 
23,  1686. 

Juno.  '■'  The  Countess  of  Sussex."  Lady  Anne  Fitzroy, 
daughter  of  Charles  IL  by  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland  and  wife 
of  Thomas,  Lord  Dacre  and  Earl  of  Sussex. 

Psecas,  an  envious  nymph,  enemy  to  Calisto,  beloved  by 
Mercury.  '•  The  Lady  Mary  Mordant,"  daughter  and  heir  of 
Henry,  second  Earl  of  Peterborough :  she  married  in  1677, 
Henry,  seventh  Duke  of  Norfolk,  from  wiiom  she  was  divorced 
in  April,  1700.  She  afterwards  married  Sir  John  Germaine,  to 
whom  she  left  a  great  part  of  the  Peterborough  estates. 

Diana,  goddess  of  Chastity.  "  Mrs.  Blagge,  late  maid  of 
honour  to  the  Q,ueen."     Mrs.  Godolphin. 

Mercury,  in  love  with  Psecas.  "  Mrs.  Jennings,  maid  of 
honour  to  the  Duchess."  Sarah  Jennings,  afterwards  married 
to  John  Churchill,  the  great  Duke  of  Marlborough. 

The  '•  Nymphs  attending  on  Diana,  who  also  danced  in  the 
Prologue,  and  in  several  Entries  in  the  Play,"  were 

'•  The  Countess  of  Darby."  Dorothea  Helena,  daughter  of 
John  Poliander  de  Kirkhoven,  by  Catharine,  Countess  of  Ches- 
terfield, daughter  of  Thomas,  second  Lord  Wotton.  The 
Countess  was  widow  of  Charles  Stanley,  eighth  Earl  of  Derby, 
who  had  died  Dec.  21,  1672. 

"  The  Countess  of  Pembroke."  Henrietle  de  Querouaille 
(sister  to  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth),  wife  of  Philip  Herbert, 
seventh  Earl  of  Pembroke.  Bishop  Kennett  spells  the  name 
Carewell. 


134  NOTES. 


"  The  Lady  Katharine  Herbert."  Sister-in-law  to  the  pre- 
ceding, being  daughter  of  the  fifth  Earl  of  Pembroke,  by- 
Katharine,  daughter  of  Sir  William  Villiers  of  Brookesby. 

"Mrs.  Fitz-Gerald."  Probably  Katharine  (daughter  of 
John  Fitz  Gerald  of  Dromana),  who  married  in  1677,  Edward 
Villiers,  eldest  son  of  George,  fourth  Viscount  Grandison. 

"Mrs.  Frazier,  maid  of  honour  to  the  Q,ueen." 

The  "  men  that  danced  "  were 

"  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Monmouth." 

"  The  Viscount  Dunblaine."  Edward  Osborne,  Lord  Lati- 
mer, one  of  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Bedchamber  to  Charles  IL, 
eldest  son  of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Danby  (afterwards  created  Mar- 
quis of  Carmarthen  and  Duke  of  Leeds).  After  the  representa- 
tion, but  before  the  publication  of  the  piece,  the  Earl  of  Danby 
was  created  Viscount  Dunblaine  in  Scotland,  which  dignity 
was  assumed  as  a  title  of  courtesy  by  his  son.  Lord  Latimer. 
By  Table  I.  it  will  be  seen  that  the  present  Duke  of  Leeds  is 
the  lineal  representative  of  Mrs.  Godolphin. 

"  The  Lord  Daincourt."  Robert  Leake,  eldest  son  of  Nico- 
las, second  Earl  of  Scarsdale,  whom  he  afterwards  succeeded 
in  that  title. 

"  Mrs.  Moon." 

"Mr.  Harpe." 

"  Mr.  Lane." 
Neither  in  this  list,  nor  amongst  the  names  given  in  the  Diary, 
is  the  name  of  the  Duchess  of  Monmouth,  whom  Evelyn  here 
mentions  as  one  of  "  the  shineing  beautyes  "  who  performed. 
It  is  probable  that  Evelyn's  Diary  written  at  the  time,'corrobo- 
rated  as  it  is  by  the  published  list,  is  the  more  correct  on  this 
point.  The  Duchess  of  Monmouth  too  had  some  years  before 
met  with  a  severe  accident  whilst  dancing,  which  caused  an 
incurable  lameness.     See  Pepys'  Diary,  Sept.  20,  1668. 

P.  54.  "  The  Countess  of  Suffolk?^  '•  Was  at  the  repetition 
of  the  pastoral,  on  which  occasion  Mrs.  Blagg  had  about  her 
neere  20,000/.  worth  of  Jewells,  of  which  she  lost  one,  worth 
about  SO/.,  borrow'd  of  the  Countess  of  Suffolk.  The  press  was 
so  greate,  that  'tis  a  wonder  she  lost  no  more.      The  Duke 


NOTES.  135 


made  it  good.*'  Diary,  Dec.  22.  1674.  The  Countess  of  Suf- 
folk was  Barbara,  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Villiers,  (see  Table 
III.)  widow  of  Sir  Richard  Wentworth,  and  second  wife  of 
James  Howard,  third  Earl  of  Suffolk.     She  died  in  1681. 

P.  56.  ••  The  master  of  the  Robes,  now  Earle  of  Rochester. ^^ 
Laurence  Hyde  (second  son  of  the  Chancellor  Clarendon) 
created  Earl  of  Rochester  at  the  end  of  1682.  a  fact  which 
proves  that  Evelyn  did  not  write  this  life  until  some  years  after 
Mrs.  Godolphin's  death. 

P.  56.  "  Dr.  Lake.^^  John  Lake,  afterwards  Bishop  of 
Chichester. 

P.  58.  "  My  lady  Hamilton.''''  "  A  sprightly  young  lady, 
much  in  the  good  graces  of  the  [Berkeley]  family,  wife  of  that 
valiant  and  worthy  gentleman  George  Hamilton,  not  long  after 
slain  in  the  wars.  She  had  been  a  maid  of  honour  to  the 
Duchess  and  now  turned  Papist."  Diary,  12  JVov.  1675.  This 
was  Frances  Jennings  (elder  sister  of  Sarah,  Duchess  of  Marl- 
borough) widow  of  Sir  George  Hamilton,  grandson  of  James, 
first  Earl  of  Abercorn,  and  brother  of  Count  Anthony  Hamilton, 
author  of  the  Memoires  de  Grammont.  Lady  Hamilton  after- 
wards married  Richard  Talbot,  created  Duke  of  Tyrconnel. 
and  is  well  known  as  the  Duchess  of  Tyrconnel.  After  this  it 
is  curious  to  read  in  Pennant's  words,  "  Above  stairs  (at  the 
New  Exchange  in  the  Strand)  sat  in  the  character  of  a  mille- 
ner,  the  reduced  Duchess  of  Tyrconnel,  wife  to  Richard  Tal- 
bot, lord  deputy  of  Ireland  under  James  II.  a  bigoted  papist, 
and  fit  instrument  of  the  designs  of  the  infatuated  prince,  who 
had  created  him  Earl  before  his  abdication,  and  after  that 
Duke  of  Tyrconnel.  A  female,  suspected  to  have  been  his 
duchess,  after  his  death,  supported  herself  for  a  few  days  (till 
she  was  known  and  otherwise  provided  for)  by  the  little  trade 
of  this  place  :  having  delicacy  enough  not  to  wish  to  be  detected, 
she  sat  in  a  white  mask,  and  a  white  dress,  and  was  known  by 
the  name  of  the  white  icidow."  This  story,  if  true,  forms  a  sin- 
gular contrast  to  that  which  Pepys  relates  of  her  in  his  Diary, 
21  Feb.  1664-5,  -  What  mad  freaks  the  mayds  of  honor  at 
court  have  !     That  Mrs.  Jenings,  one  of  the  Dutchesse's  maids, 


136  NOTES. 


the  other  day  dressed  herself  like  an  orange  wench,  and  went 
up  and  down  and  cried  oranges ;  till  falling  down,  or  by  some 
accident,  her  fine  shoes  were  discerned,  and  she  put  to  a  great 
deal  of  shame."  The  Duchess  of  Tyrconnel  died  in  Dublin 
7  March,  1730  ;  her  husband  died  Aug.  14,  1691. 

P.  59.  "  Ambassador  io  the  Court  of  France?''  John,  Lord 
Berkeley,  of  Stratton,  (see  Table  II.)  left  England  on  this 
Embassy  14  Nov.  1675.  Evelyn  in  his  Diary  for  Oct.  and 
Nov.  in  1675,  gives  many  particulars.  If  we  were  to  trust  to 
the  editor  of  Evelyn's  Diary  and  to  the  noble  editor  of  Pepys', 
the  Lord  and  Lady  Berkeley,  so  often  named  as  Mrs.  Godol- 
phin's  warm  friends,  were  George  Lord  Berkeley,  afterwards 
created  Earl  of  Berkeley,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  daughter  and 
co-heir  of  John  Massingbeard,  esq.  of  Lincolnshire,  and  in  the 
absence  of  all  connexion  between  them  and  the  families  of 
Blagge  and  Godolphin  there  would  be  great  difficulty  in  show- 
ing any  probable  cause  for  the  friendship,  not  to  call  it  patron- 
age, which  Mrs.  Godolphin  and  her  husband  received.  The 
editors  of  Evelyn  and  Pepys  have  unfortunately  fallen  into  the 
error,  which  I  have  pointed  out  as  having  been  committed  be- 
fore them  by  Pennant,  of  confounding  the  two  Lords  Berkeley, 
if  not  the  two  "  Berkeley-houses." 

Lord  Berkeley  of  Stratton^  originally  known  as  Si  rJohn 
Berkeley,  and  in  the  service  of  Charles  I.  at  the  same  time  with 
Colonel  Blagge,  Mrs.  Godolphin's  father,  was  concerned  with 
John  Ashburnham  and  Colonel  Legge  in  the  flight  of  Charles 
I.  from  Hampton  Court  to  the  Isle  of  Wight,  a  vexed  point  of 
history,  on  which  Lord  Clarendon's  misstatements  have  been 
w^ell  corrected  by  the  late  Earl  of  Ashburnham.  During  the 
exile  of  the  royal  family  he  became  the  favourite  of  James,  Duke 
of  York,  whose  favour  he  never  lost ;  although  he  was  repre- 
sented to  Charles  as  the  secret  agent  of  the  Court  of  France, 
and  as  the  known  enemy  of  the  Chancellor  Clarendon  and  his 
party.  The  Chancellor's  enmity  Berkeley  shared  alike  with 
Ashburnham  and  Legge,  the  first  however  obtained  his  peer- 
age in  1658,  as  the  price  of  James'  return  to  his  brother  Charles  ; 
the  others,  although  high  in  favour  with  Charles  II.  were  en- 


NOTES.  137 


nobled  in  the  persons  of  their  descendants.  Clarendon  makes 
the  enmity  between  himself  and  Berkeley  to  arise  from  his  op- 
position to  Berkeley's  claim  to  the  mastership  of  the  Court  of 
Wards  :  James  II.  in  his  Memoirs,  from  Clarendon's  advice  to 
Lady  Morton  to  reject  Berkeley's  proposals  of  marriage.  Lady 
Morton,  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  '•  the  beautiful  race 
of  ViUiers,"  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Edward  Villiers, 
niece  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  widow  of  Robert  Dou- 
glas, 8th  Earl  of  Morton,  who  died  in  1649.  Whilst  Lady  Dal- 
keith, and  during  the  stay  of  Charles  the  First's  family  at 
Exeter,  she  had  had  the  charge  of  the  Princess  Henrietta, 
afterwards  Duchess  of  Orleans,  and  to  her  Fuller  inscribes  his 
'•  Good  Thoughts  in  Bad  Times."  Her  noble  rescue  of  her 
royal  ward,  whom  she  carried  on  her  back  to  Dover,  in  the 
disguise  of  a  beggar  and  her  child,  is  well  known.  Lady  Mor- 
ton died  in  1654.  Besides  enjoying  the  personal  favour  of  the 
Duke  of  York,  Berkeley  was  a  near  kinsman  of  the  influential 
Harry  Jermyn.  Earl  of  St.  Albans,  who.  as  we  see  by  the  table 
of  the  Blagge  family,  was  also  a  relative  of  Mrs.  Godolphin : 
the  close  connexion  of  the  Berkeley  and  Godolphin  famihes 
fully  accounts  for  the  long  and  intimate  friendship  which  existed 
between  them. 

After  the  Restoration  Berkeley's  rise  was  rapid,  and  his 
employments  numerous.  In  1660  he  was  appointed  a  commis- 
sioner of  the  Admiralty,  in  June  1662  a  privy  counsellor  for 
Ireland,  and  soon  afterwards  Lord  President  of  Connaught. 
In  1664  he  was  made  a  master  of  the  ordnance,  and  in  1665  a 
commissioner  of  Tangier.  All  these  offices  he  held  at  the  same 
time,  and  so  early  as  1663,  Pepys  says  that  Lord  Berkeley 
boasted  of  having  gained  £50,000  in  the  navy  alone.  This 
sum  appears  so  great  that  I  suspect  some  error  in  the  trans- 
cription of  Pepys'  Diary.  If  it  be  true,  there  can  be  no  wonder 
that,  in  1665,  we  read  of  Berkeley's  beginning  a  house  at  St. 
James',  next  to  the  Lord  Chancellor's,  nor  at  Evelyn's  mention- 
ing, in  1672,  that  it  had  cost  £30,000.  He  had  also  more  indi- 
rect ways  of  obtaining  money  through  his  influence  with  the 
Duke  of  York,  as  Pepys  mentions  in  1668.     In  April  1670  Lord 


138  NOTES. 


Berkeley  was  appointed  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  where  he 
remained  till  August  1672.  In  October  1674,  he  was  named 
to  the  embassy  to  France,  in  which  he  was  accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Godolphin  and  by  Evelyn's  son.  From  this  embassy  he 
returned  in  June  1677,  and  in  the  following  year  he  died. 

As  Evelyn  and  Pepys'  Diaries  may  be  consulted,  I  add 
the  following  corrected  index  to  the  places  where  Lord  Berke- 
ley of  Slratton  is  meant,  (8vo.  editions).  Evelyn  ii.  255.  260. 
373-375.  398.  413.  417.  421.  425.  iii.  90.  117.  177.  338.  Pepys 
i.  115.  121.  122.  163.  282.;  ii.  21.  101.  132.  141.  173.  224.  238. 
249.  250.  256.  346.  423. ;  iii.  167.  183.  228.  236.  386.  395. ;  iv. 
62.  174.  181.  The  other  places  relate  to  George,  Lord  Berke- 
ley, of  Berkeley,  afterwards  Earl  ofBerkeley.  viz.  Evelyn,  vol. 
ii.  136.  140.  147.  198.  214.  385 ;  vol.  iii.  67.  Pepys,  vol.  i.  39. 
95.  305.;  vol.  ii.  80. ;  vol.  iii.  87.  230.  291.;  vol.  v.  42-45. 

P.  65.  "  Nothing  like  Piiito^s  Travels.''''  The  name  of 
Fernam  Mendez  Pinto  will  ever  remain  associated  w4th  false- 
hood and  exaggeration.  He  lived  in  the  16th  century,  but  his 
travels  were  not  translated  into  English  until  1663,  whence 
probably  Mrs.  Godolphin's  acquaintance  with  them.  Con- 
greve's  well  known  lines,  almost  become  proverbial,  (and 
which  it  is  impossible  to  quote  without  remembering  their 
witty  application  by  the  present  Bishop  of  Llandaff,) 

"  Fernam  Mendez  Pinto  was  but  a  type  of  thee, 
Thou  liar  of  the  first  magnitude  ! ' ' 

I^ovefor  Love,  Act  ii.  Sc.  5. 

were  not  written  until  after  Mrs.  Godolphin's  death.  Claude's 
Defence  de  la  Reformation^  written  in  reply  to  the  Jansenist 
Nicole,  was  first  published  in  1673,  so  that  at  the  time  of  Mrs. 
Godolphin's  visit  to  Paris,  the  book  must  have  had  the  addi- 
tional charm  of  novelty. 

P.  65.  "  That  haile  of  theirsP  Perhaps  for  hale,  sorrow, 
or  destruction. 

P.  65.  "  My  charge  your  son?''  "  I  settled  affaires,  my  sonn 
being  to  go  into  France,  with  my  Lord  Berkeley,  designed 
ambassador  extraordinary  for  France,  and  plenipotentiary  for 
the  general  peace  of  Nimeguen."     Diary,  15  Oct.  1675.     Tlu's 


NOTES.  139 


son  was  John  Evelyn,  great-grandfather  of  the  present  Arch- 
bishop of  York.  At  this  time  he  was  about  nineteen  years  of 
age. 

P.  66.  "  My  Lady  H.'^     Lady  Hamilton,  see  p.  58. 

P.  67.  '•  Mr.  Bernard  Greeyivile,^^  of  Abs-Court  at  Walton 
on  Thames  in  Surrey,  "  an  old  house  in  a  pretty  parke." 
Diary,  17  Sept.  ]673.  In  August  1672,  Bernard  Grenville  had 
been  sent  on  a  mission  to  Savoy,  and  it  was  probably  on  his 
return  from  this  mission  that  he  escorted  Mrs.  Godolphin  to 
England.  He  was  the  second  son  of  Sir  Beville  Grenville, 
killed  at  Lansdowne  fight,  whose  eldest  son.  Sir  John  Gren- 
ville, the  bearer  of  Charles  XL's  messages  to  the  Lords  and 
Commons,  was  created  Viscount  Lansdowne  and  Earl  of  Bath. 
After  the  death,  without  issue,  of  William,  grandson  of  the  first 
Earl  of  Bath  :  George,  second  son  of  Bernard  Grenville,  was 
created  Lord  Lansdowne  in  1711.  He  is  well  known  from  his 
poetical  talents. 

P.  68.  •'  Dr.  Warneit's  in  Covent  Garden,  whose  wife  was 
her  near  relation.^^     Of  this  relationship  I  find  no  trace. 

P.  70.  "  Lease  she  had  of  certaine  lands  in  Spalding" 
See  Diary  of  9  Nov.  1676.  '=  Finished  the  lease  of  Spalding 
for  Mr.  Godolphin." 

P.  70.  "  Her  pretty  habitation  in  Scotland  Yard."  "  To 
London,  to  take  order  about  building  an  house,  or  rather  an 
apartment  which  had  all  the  conveniences  of  an  house,  for  my 
deare  friend  Mr.  Godolphin  and  lady,  which  I  undertook  to 
contrive  and  survey,  and  employ  workmen,  till  it  should  be 
quite  finished,  it  being  just  over  against  his  majesties  wood 
yard  by  the  Thames  side,  leading  to  Scotland  Yard."  Diary, 
12  Sept.  1676. 

P.  73.  '•  The  picture  she  some  years  since  bestowed  upon 
me."     See  preface  to  this  volume. 

P.  74.  "  My  lady  Viscountess  Mordant."  Elizabeth  Carey, 
daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Thomas,  second  son  of  Robert,  Earl 
of  Monmouth,  wife  of  John,  Viscount  Mordaunt  of  Avalon,  eldest 
son  of  John,  Earl  of  Peterborough. 

P.  74.    "  Your  ladyship  and  sister  Gr"(aham).     Dorothy 


140  NOTES. 


Howard,  wife  of  Colonel  James  Graham  of  Levens.  See 
Table  IV. 

P.  74.  "  Mr.  AshmoWsatt  Lambath.'^  This  visit  was  on  the 
23rd  of  July,  and  on  the  same  day,  "Mr.  Godolphin  was  made 
master  of  the  robes  to  the  King."  On  the  25th  July,  Evelyn  adds, 
"  there  was  sent  to  me  £70  from  whom  I  knew  not,  to  be  by 
me  distributed  among  the  poore  people :  I  afterwards  found  it 
was  from  that  deare  friend  (Mrs.  Godolphin)  who  had  fre- 
quently given  me  large  sums  to  bestow  on  charities."  It  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  museum  called  "  Mr.  Ash- 
mole's  att  Lambath"  is  now  the  Ashmolean  at  Oxford.  Of  the 
MSS.  which  Evelyn  mentions  in  his  Diary,  a  catalogue  has 
recently  been  printed  by  the  University. 

P.  77.  "  Mr.  Harvey,  treasurer  to  her  Majesiye.''^  John 
Hervey,  eldest  son  of  Sir  William  Hervey  of  Ickworth ;  he 
was  a  great  favourite  with  Charles  II.  a  leading  man  in  Par- 
liament, and  a  patron  of  letters:  he  died  18  Jan.  1679. 

P.  79.  "  Dr.  Needham."  Diary,  Nov.  4,  1679.  «  Went  to 
the  funerall  of  my  pious,  dear  and  ancient  learned  friend,  Dr. 
Jasper  Needham,  who  was  buried  at  St.  Bride's  Church.  He 
was  a  true  and  holy  Christian,  and  one  who  loved  me  with 
greate  affection." 

P.  79.  "  Dr.  Short.^^  Dr.  Peregrine  Short,  "  reputed  a  pa- 
pist, but  who  was  in  truth,  a  very  honest  good  Christian,"  and 
by  whose  advice  Charles  II.  had  first  taken  the  Jesuits  back. 
Diary,  20  Nov.  1694. 

P.  82.  "  Mrs.  Doscawen,^''  her  sister  in  law,  see  Tables  I. 
and  V. 


TABLE    I. 


PEDIGREE     OF    BLAGGE    AND     GODOLPHIN. 


Cecily,  (srcovd  wife)  dau.  of  S 
John  Brooke,  Lord  Cobliam,  by  Mar- 
garet, dau.  of  Edward  Neville,  Lord 
Abergavenny.  She  married  also  John 
Barret,  and,  thirdly.  Sir  Richard  Wal- 
den,  Knt.     She  died  35  Hen.  VIIL 


ir— Robert  Blagoe,  or  Blague,  or 
Blaoe,  of  Broke  Montague,  co. 
Somerset,  and  Clevndon,  in  Da- 
rent,  CO.  Kent.  ^aron  of  the 
Exchequer,  27  June,  1511,  d.  13 
Sept.  15--^. 


=Katherine,      (first 
wife,)  dau.  and  h.  of 

Thos.  Bruno,  or 
Browne  ofilorseman's 
Place,  in  Dartford,  co. 
Kent. 


Anne,  (first — Sir  Ambrose — Dorothy,  (second  wife) — Sir  George 


wife)  dau.  of 
Sir      George 
Hevening- 
ham. 


Jermyn,  of 
Rushbrook, 
CO.  Suffolk, 
d.  1577. 


dau.  of  William  Badbye, 
widow  of  Richard  Good- 
riche.  In  1.5G3,  she  had  a 
lease  from  Eliz.  of  the  ma- 
nor of  Stanmore,  co.  Mid- 
dlesex, d.  April,  1594. 


r 


T 


Blague, 
Knt.  b.  1512, 
d.  1551.  See 
note  A. 


Barnaby        John 
Blagge,  who    Blag- 
in  33  Hen.  VIIL  GE,ob. 

sold  Horse-  8.  p. 

man's   Place, 
ob.  8.  p. 


--] 


Sir  Robert—  Jvdith       Henry  Blagge,  of  Hornings-^HESTHER    Charles  Le — Hesther 


Jermyn,    of 
Rushbrook, 
d.    ]9    April, 
1614. 


Blagge,      berth,   co.    Suffolk,    who   sold 
d.  Oct.         Clevndon,  24  Eliz.   d.    April, 
1614.  1596. 


I 

Susan,  who  mar- 
ried Sir  William 
Hervey,  ancestor 
of  the  Marquess 
of  Bristol. 


Jermyn, 

m.  8  Oct. 

1571. 


Grise,  of 
Brockdish. 


Blagge, 
m.25 
Nov. 
1566. 


L_ 


T 


Sir  Thomas  —.  Marga-=^Ambrose  Blagge,' 
Jermyn,  of 
Rushbrooke, 
living  1622. 


Thomas  Jer- 
myn, whose 
son,  Thomas, 
succeeded  as 
second  Lord 
Jermyn,  but 
died  s.  p.  in 
1703. 


ret 
Clarke. 


of  Horningsherth, 
d.  1662. 


Five  Children. 


^Martha  Barber,  Doro- 
of  Bury,  first  wife,     THY 
m.   31    Mar.   1608,  Blao- 
d.  Aug.  1624.  GK. 


Henry  Jer-  Colonel  Thomas  Blagge,  , 

MYN,  created  of  Horningsherth,   Groom  of 

Lord  Jermyn  the  Bedchamber  to  Charles  I. 

in  1684,  with  andGovernor  of  Wallingford, 

limitation  to  which  surrendered  to  Fairfax 

his     brother,  in  1646.     After   the    restora- 

created  Earl  tion  he  was  colonel  of  a  regi- 

of    St.    Al-  ment  and  Governor  of  Yar- 

bans      1660.  mouth  and  Landguard  Fort, 

Died    s.     p.  d.  14   Nov.    16(i0,    buried   at 

1683.  Westminster,  where  a  monu- 
ment to  him  formerly  existed. 


Mary  North,  George  Martha, 
dau.  ofSirRo-  Blagge. 


Sir  Tho-= 
MAS  Yar- 

BCRGII    of 

Snaith, 

Sheriff    of 

Yorksh. 

1676,  eet. 

37. 


Henrietta 
Maria 
Blagge 
(for  whom 
see  Gram- 
mont's  Me- 
moirs.) 


TT 


ger    North,    of 
Mildenhall, 

by     Elizabeth, 
dau.  of  Sir 

John    Gilbert, 

of  Great  Fin- 

borovv,  CO. 

Suftblk. 


Harry 
Blagge. 


Judith. 

Anne. 

Katha- 
rine. 


Dorothy 
Blagge. 
Mary 
Blagge. 


MARGA- 
RET 
BLAGGE, 

b.  2  Aug. 
1652,  Maid 
of  Honor 
to  Q,ueen  Catharine, 
m.  16  May,  1675,  d. 
9  Sept.  1678,  buried 
at  Breajre,  co.  Corn- 
wai],  16~Sept.  1678. 


B 


-Sidney  Godolphin,  3rd 
son  of  Sir  Francis  Go- 
dolphin,  K.  B.  A  Lord 
of  the  Treasury  in  1679, 
and  first  Lord  in  1684. 
Created  Lord  Godol- 
phin, of  Rialton,  in  Sept. 
1684.  Lord  High  Trea- 
surer in  1704,  K.  G.  cre- 
ated Viscount  Rialton, 
and  Earl  of  Godolphin, 
29  Dec.  1706.  Died  1712, 


NOTES. 


143 


Ten  children,  of  wliom  two  were 
maids  of  honor.  Tlie  youngest  of 
these  (Alice),  was  maid  of  honor 
to  Queen  Anne,  dving  at  Windsor 
in  1786.  set.  97.  The  other  (Hen- 
rietta Maria)  married  Sir  Marma- 
duke  Wyvill.  bart.  of  Constable 
Barton,  co.  Yorkshire. 


B 


Fr.vxcis  Godolphis,  2nd= 
Earl  of  Godolphin,  and 
Viscount  Rialton,  b. 3  Sept. 
1678,  created  in  1735,  Lord 
Godolphin  of  Helstone, 
with  remainder  to  the  is- 
sue of  his  uncle  Henry. 
Died  17  Jan.  1766. 


'Henrietta  Church-  Fr.vncis 
ILL,  eldest  dau.  and  Godol- 
co-heir  of  John,  Duke  phis,  2nd 
of  Marlborough.  Du-  Lord  Go- 
chess  of  Marlborough  dolphin  of 
in  her  own  ri?ht.  Helstone. 
Died  24  Oct.  1733,  Ob.  s.  p. 
aet.  53.  1785. 


Thomas  = 

=He; 

1. 

<RI- 

Henry 

Thomas  Os- 

2. 
=Mary  Go- 

William 

GODOL-= 

Pelham 

ETTA 

Godol- 

borne, 4th 

dolphin, 

PHiN,   called    Vis- 

Holles, 

Godol- 

phin, 

Duke  of 

m.26 

count  Rialton,  af- 

Duke   of 

phin, 

died 

Leeds,  b.  6 

June, 

terwards    Marquis 

Newccis- 

m.  2 

voung. 

Nov.  1713. 

1740,  d.  3 

of  Blandford,   ob. 

tle,  K.G. 

April, 

K.  G.   d.  23 

Aug.  1764, 

s.  p.  24  Aug.  1731, 

1717,  d. 

Mar.  1789. 

set.  41. 

whereby  the  Marl- 

s.p. 

borough  titles   and 
estates    passed    to 
Spencer,    Earl    of 
Sunderland. 

=Mary  Caterina 
d'Yonghe,  d.  of 
Peter  d'Yonghe, 
of  Utrecht,  m.  15 
April,   1729 ;  she 

remarried,  1st 
June,  1734,  Sir 
William  Wynd- 
ham,  Bart.  andd. 
1779,  s.  p.  Buried 
at  Mortlcike. 


Thomas  Os-  Amelia  D'Arcy,  (first  wife)  only' 
BORNE,  Mar-  dau.  and  h.  of  Robert,  last  Earl 
quis  of  Car-  of  Holdemess,  and  Baroness  Con- 
marthen,  b.  yers,  remarried  in  1779,  John  By- 
1747,  d.  1761.  ron,  esq.  (tather  of  Lord  Byron) 
and  died  in  1781. 


'Francis    Godolphin' 

Osborne,   5th    Duke 

of  Leeds,  born  29  Jan. 

175 J,   died    31    Jan. 

1799. 


George  Wil-=Charlotte 

TOWNS- 

hend,     dau. 

of  George, 

1st  Marquis 

Towns- 

hend. 


liam  Frede- 
ric Osborne, 
6th  Duke  of 
Leeds,     Baron 

Conyers,  b. 
1775,   m.  1797, 

.  d.  1838. 


Francis  Go-'^ 

dolphin  Os- 
borne, b. 

1777,  m.  1800. 

Created  in 

1832,  Lord 

Godolphin 

of     Farnham. 

Royal. 


Elizabeth  Tho-= 
Charlotte  mas 
Eden,    dau.  Pel- 
of  William,  ham, 
1st  Lord     Earl 
Auckland.       of 
Chi- 
ches- 
ter. 


'Catharine  Angttish, 
{second  wife)  m.  1788, 
Mistress  of  the  Robes 
to  Q,aeen  Adelaide,  d. 
1837. 


=Mary  Hen-  Sidney  Catha- 
rietta  Ju-  Godol-    rine 
LIANA     Os-    PHIN      Anne 
borne,     b.      Os-       Mary 
1776,  m.     borne,  Osborne 
1801.  b.  16       b.  1798, 

Dec.     m.in  1819 
1789.     Cap.John 
Whyte 
Melville. 


Francis=Loi:isaGeorge' 
Godol-     Catha-     Os- 

PHIN  RINE       borne, 

D'Arcy     Caton.  b.  1802, 
Os-  m.l824. 

borne,  7th  Duke 
of  Leeds,  b.  1798, 
m.  1828. 


William — Caroline  Sydney' 


Stew-   b.  1804, 
ART.      m.  first 
Emma 
Smith, 
in  1832. 


MONTAGL',    GODOL- 

{sec.  wife)      phin 
dau.  of         Os- 

I^ord         borne, 
Rokeby,    b.   IFOO, 
ni.  1834.    in  holy 
orders. 


=  Emi-    D'Arcy      Char- 
LY,      Godol-       lotte 

d.     of        PHlN         OSBORNB 

Pas-  Osborne    b.  1805, 
COE      b.  1814.    m.  Sir  T. 

Gren-  H.  L. 

FELL,  Brinckman, 

Bart.  d.  1838. 


144  NOTES. 


Note  A. 

Sir  George  Bla&ge  deserves  more  notice  than  the  mere  mention  of 
his  name  in  the  preceding  table. 

He  was  born  in  the  year  1512,  and  was  educated  at  Cambridge.' 
At  a  comparatively  early  age  he  was  introduced  at  the  Court  of  Henry 
Vni.^  and  in  the  absence  of  other  criteria  we  may  judge  favourably  of 
him  from  the  characters  of  his  two  chief  companions  and  friends,  the 
Earl  of  Surrey  and  Sir  Thomas  Wyat.  In  October,  1543,  when  the 
Imperialists  under  the  immediate  eye  of  Charles  V.  aided  by  the  English 
under  the  command  of  Sir  John  Wallop,  formed  the  siege  of  Landreci,^ 
which  Francis  I.  hastened  to  relieve  in  person,  Surrey  with  other  young 
nobles,  joined  the  English  forces,  and  was  accompanied  in  his  expedi- 
tion by  G.  Blagge.  Both  incurred  personal  danger,  and  Sir  John  Wal- 
lop mentions  in  a  letter  to  the  King  a  narrow  escape  of  Blagge*  in  these 
terms.  "  Yesterday,  Blagge,  who  arrived  here  with  my  Lord  of  Surrey, 
went  with  Mr.  Carew  to  see  the  said  trench,  and  escaped  very  hardly 
from  a  piece  of  ordnance  that  was  shot  towards  him." 

A  proof  of  the  high  estimation  in  which  Blagge  was  held  by  Surrey, 
is  afforded  by  the  following  beautiful  lines,  prefixed  to  his  version  of  the 
Ixxiii.  I'salm.* 

*'  The  sudden  storms  that  heave  me  to  and  fro. 

Had  well  near  pierced  Faith,  my  guiding  sail. 
For  I  that  on  the  noble  voyage  go 

To  succour  truth,  and  falsehood  to  assail, 
Constrained  am  to  bear  my  sails  full  low ; 

And  never  could  attain  some  pleasant  gale. 
For  unto  such  the  prosperous  winds  do  blow 

As  men  from  port  to  port  to  seek  avail. 

1)  Works  of  Surrey  and  Wyat,  by  Nott,  vol.  i.  p.  xcvi. 

2)  Strype's  Annals  (Oxford  Ed.),  vol.  ii.  pt.  ii.  p.  419. 

3)  Surrey  and  Wyat,  vol.  i.  app.  xxxi.T. 

4)  lb.  vol.  i.  p.  Ivii. 

5)  Snrrey  and  Wyat,  vol.  i.  p.  80. 


NOTES.  145 


This  bred  despair ;  whereof  such,  doubts  did  grow 
That  I  ganfaint,  and  all  my  courage  fail. 

But  now,  my  Blage,  mine  error  well  I  see ; 
Such  goodly  light  King  David  giveth  me." 

In  a  court  like  that  of  Henry  VIII.  high  favour  was  near  akin  to 
danger  and  to  death,  and  Blagge  escaped  as  hardly  from  the  fires  in 
Smithfield  as  from  the  French  cannon  at  Landreci.  In  1546,  when 
Wriothesley  and  Gardiner  commenced  their  persecutions  on  the  statute 
of  the  Six  Articles,  he  was  taken  up  as  a  "  favorer  of  the  Gospel,"® 
and  was  only  saved  by  Henry's  personal  interposition.  Fox's  narrative 
is  this  :' 

"  Here  would  also  something  be  said  of  Sir  George  Blage,  one  of  the 
King's  Privy  Chamber,  who,  being  falsely  accused  by  Sir  Hugh  Caver- 
ley,  knt.  and  Master  Littleton,  was  sent  for  by  Wriothesley,  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, the  Sunday  before  Anne  Askew  suffered,  and  the  next  day  was 
carried  to  Newgate,  and  from  thence  to  Guildhall,  where  he  was  con- 
demned the  same  day,  and  appointed  to  be  burned  the  Wednesday 
following.     The  words  which  his  accusers  laid  unto  him  were  these  : 

*  What  if  a  mouse  should  eat  the  bread  ?  then,  by  my  consent,  they 
should  hang  up  the  mouse :'  whereas,  indeed  these  words  he  never 
spake,  as  to  his  life's  end  he  protested.  But  the  truth  (as  he  said)  was 
this,  that  they,  craftily  to  undermine  him,  walking  with  him  in  Paul's 
Church,  after  a  sermon  of  Dr.  Crome,  asked  if  he  were  at  the  sermon. 
He  said '  Yea.'  *  I  heard  say,'^saith  Master  Littleton, '  that  he  said  in  his 
sermon,  that  the  mass  profiteth  neither  for  the  quick  nor  for  the  dead.' 

*  No,'  saith  Master  Blage,  '  Wherefore  then?  Belike  for  a  gentleman, 
when  he  rideth  a  hunting,  to  keep  his  horse  from  stumbling.'  And  so 
they  departing,  immediately  after  he  was  apprehended  (as  is  shewed) 
and  condemned  to  be  burned.  When  this  was  heard  among  them  of 
the  Privy  Chamber,  the  King,  hearing  them  whispering  together  (which 
he  could  never  abide)  commanded  them  to  tell  him  the  matter. 
Whereupon  the  matter  being  opened,  and  suit  made  to  the  King,  espe- 
cially by  the  good  Earl  of  Bedford,  then  Lord  Privy  Seal,  the  King, 
being  sore  offended  with  their  doings,  that  they  would  come  so  near 


6)  Strype's  Memorials,  vol.  i.  pt.  i.  p.  59?. 

T)  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments.  1135  (ed.  154fi). 

8 


146  NOTES. 


him,  and  even  into  his  Privy  Chamber,  without  his  knowledge,  sent  for 
Wriothesley,  commanding  eftsoons  to  draw  out  his  pardon  himself, 
and  so  was  set  at  liberty  :  who,  coming  after  to  the  King's  presence, 
'  Ah  !  my  pig '  (saith  the  King  to  him,  for  so  he  was  wont  to  call  him). 
*  Yea,'  said  he, '  if  your  Majesty  had  not  been  better  to  me  than  your 
bishops  were,  your  pig  had  been  roasted  ere  this  time.' " 

Fox  is  in  error'  when  he  speaks  of  Blagge  as  one  of  the  Gentlemen 
of  the  Privy  Chamber,  a  post  which  he  never  held,  and  also  in  calling 
him  at  that  time  Sir  "George  Blagge.  Fox  antedates  Blagge's  knight- 
hood, an  honour  which  was  conferred  on  him  in  1547,  by  the  Protector 
Duke  of  Somerset,  whom,  whilst  Earl  of  Hertford,  Blagge  accompanied 
in  the  Expedition  to  Scotland.®  Blagge  was  knighted  after  the  fight  at 
Mussleborough,^''  and  in  the  same  year  he  and  Sir  Thomas  Holcroft 
were  made  Commissioners  of  the  Musters."  In  1548-9  occurred  that 
tragedy  wherein  one  Seymour,  the  Lord  Admiral,  fell  by  the  warrant  of 
his  own  brother,  the  Protector,  Duke  of  Somerset,  himself  destined  to 
fall  under  the  same  axe.  Some  of  the  depositions  of  the  witnesses  against 
the  Lord  Admiral  have  long  since  appeared  ;'^  those  of  the  Marquis 
of  Dorset,  the  Lord  Russell,  (Privy  Seal)  Sir  George  Blagge,  and  Lord 
Clynton,  have  only  recently  been  brought  to  light. '^  Blagge's  evidence 
tends  to  prove  the  criminal  projects  of  the  Lord  Admiral. 

In  1550  died  Lord  Wriothesley,  at  whose  hands  whilst  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, Blagge  had  incurred  such  imminent  peril.  His  narrow  escape 
may  account  for,  although  it  cannot  excuse  the  severity  of  the  only 
remains  of  Blagge's  writings  ;  which  are  lines  on  the  death  of  Wriothe- 
sley. Dr.  Nott,  by  whom  they  were  first  printed,'^  and  in  whose  work 
they  may  be  found,  says  that  he  gives  them  "  from  the  Harington  MS. 
more  from  the  circumstance  of  their  having  been  written  by  one  of 
Surrey's  friends  than  from  any  merit  they  possess." 

8)  Strj'pe's  Annals,  vol.  il.  pt.  ii.  p.  419. 

9)  Surrey  and  Wyat,  vol.  ii.  p.  Ixxxiii. 

10)  Holinshed,  vol.  iii.  p.  838. 

11)  Holinshed,  vol.  iii.  p.  868. 

12)  In  Haynes'  State  Papers  from  the  Burghley  Collections,  belonging  to  the  Marquis 
of  Salisbury,  at  Hatfield. 

13)  From  the  State  Paper  Office,  by  Mr.  Fraser  Tytler  in  his  "  England  during  the 
reigns  of  Edw.  VI.  and  Mary,"  vol.  i.  pp.  146,  etc. 

14)  Surrey  and  Wyat,  vol.  i.  p.  xcvi. 


N0TE3.  147 


On  the  17th  June  in  the  following  year,  1551/*  Sir  George  Blagge 
died  at  Stanmore  in  Middlesex,  of  which  his  wife  Dorothy  afterwards 
obtained  a  lease  from  Queen  Elizabeth. 

Sir  Thomas  Wyat  was  wont  to  say  that  he  cherished  three  friends 
in  particular — "  Poynings  for  the  generosity  of  his  disposition,  Blagge 
for  his  wit,  and  Mason  for  his  learning.'"^  In  a  letter  from  Lever  to 
Ascham'^  it  is  said,  in  allusion  to  his  loss,  that  England  was  "  punished, 
as  to  courtship,  by  Gentle  Blage."^^ 


15)  Gage'sHistory  of  Suffolk. 

16)  Surrey  and  Wyat,  vol.  ii.  p.  Ixxxiii. 

17)  Strype's  Cheke,  p.  89. 

18)  By  a  statement  in  Nott's  Suney  and  Wyat,  vol.  ii.  p.  Ixv.  it  would  seem  that 
Blagge  did  not  die  until  after  his  friend  Wyat's  execution  in  1553,  as  he  was  appointed  to 
offices  previously  held  by  Wyat,  viz.  "  Keeper  of  the  King's  Messuage  at  Maidstone," 
and  "  High  Steward  of  Maidstone." 


TABLE    II. 

SHEWING  THE  CONNEXION  BETWEEN  SIDNEY 

GODOLPHIN  AND  THE  FAMILY  OF  LORD 

BERKELEY  OF  STRATTON. 


Sir  William  Go-: 

DOLPHIN. 


:TiioMASiN  Sidney. 


Sir  Maurice  ==  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Sir 
Berkeley.    |         Henry  Killigrew. 


r 


J 


Fran-=  Doro- 


CI9 

Go- 

DOL- 
PHIN. 


I 
I 

Sir 
Wil- 
liam 
Go- 
dol- 
phin. 


THY, 

dau.  of 
Charles 
Berke- 
ley, of 
Garling- 
ton. 


Pene- 
lope 
Go- 
dol- 
phin. 


=SiR  Charles 
Berkeley, 
succeeded 
his  son  as 
2nd  Vis- 
count 
Fitzhar- 
dinge.  d. 
1688. 


I 

Sid- 
ney 
Go- 
dol- 
phin, 
who 
mar- 
ried 
Mar- 
garet 
Blagge 

the 
subject 
of  this 
me- 
moir. 


Sir  John  Berkeley,  of: 
Bruton,  the  friend  of 
James,  Duke  of  York, 
James  II.  created  Lord 
Berkeley,  of  Stratton,29 
May,  16.58, LordDeputyof 
Ireland  16  ,  Ambassa- 
dor TO  France,  1675, 
(see  p.  59,)  died  1678. 


Mau-    Charles 
rice      Berke- 
Ber-         ley, 
ke-        created 
LEY,  Lord 

3rd  Berke- 

Vis-  ley  of 

count        Rath- 
Fitz-       downe, 
har-       and  Vis- 
dinge.        count 

d.  Fitzhar- 

1690.  dinge, 
with  re- 
mainder 
to  his  fa- 
ther, af- 
terwards created 
Lord  Bottcourt, 

and  Earl  of 

Falmouth.  Killed 

3  June,  1665. 


=  Eliza- 
beth, 
dau. 
of 
Her- 
vey 
Bagot, 

The 
LADY 
FAL- 
MOUTH 
See  p. 

10, 

She  manied  se 

condly  Charles 

Sackville,  Earl 

of  Dorset. 


r" 


:Christian,  dau. of  Sir  An- 
drew Riccard  (President 
of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany) widow  of  Henry, 
Lord  Kensington,  son  of 
Henry,  Earl  of  Holland. 
The  LADY  BERKE- 
LEY so  often  mentioned. 


T- 


John=BaR-  Charles,  John, 

Ber-  baRA,  2nd  3rd 

KE-  dau.  of  Lord  Lord 

LEY,  Sir  Berke-  Berke- 

4th  Edw,  ley  of  ley  of 

Vis-  Vil-  Strat-  Strat- 

count  liers,  ton,  d.  ton,  d. 

Fitz-  sister  1682.  1697, 

har-  of  the  s,  p,  s,  p. 
dinge. 


BARA, 

dau. of 

Sir 
Edw, 
Vil- 
liers, 
sister 
of  the 

1st 
Earl  of 
Jer- 
sey, d. 
1708. 


Wil- 
liam, 
4th 
Lord 
Berke- 
ley of 
Strat- 
ton,  d. 
1741. 


:FRAN- 

CES, 

dau. of 
Sir 
John 
Tem- 
ple, of 
East 
Sheen. 


John,  5th  Lord  Berke- 
ley, d,  unm.  1773.     H« 
left  his  chief  estates  U) 
Earl  Berkeley. 


TABLE     III. 

TO  SHEW   THE  PATRONAGE  EXTENDED  TO  MRS. 
GODOLPHIN  BY  THE  DUKE  OF  BUCK- 
INGHAM'S FAMILY. 


AvDREY  Sanders,  dau.  of  William^^SiR George  Villiers,=Mary  BExrMOKT,  created  Coun- 
Sanders.  tess  of  Buckingham,  1675. 


Sir 
William 

VlL- 
LIERS. 


Sir  Ed  -  =Barbara  St. 


WARD  VlL- 
LIERS,  d. 

7  Sept. 
1626. 


John,  niece 
of  the  1st 
Viscount 

Grandison. 


George    =  Lady 
ViLLiERS,     Catha- 
1st  Duke  of      RiNE 
Bucking-        Man- 
ham.  NERs. 


William  ^MARvViLLiERS.who 


WlL-  = 
LIAM 
VlL- 
LERS, 

2nd 
Vis- 
count 
Gran- 
dison. 


"1 


Fielding, 
1st  Earl  of 
Denbigh. 


dan.  of  How- 


Paul, 
Vis- 
count 
Bay- 
ning. 


ARD, 

3rd 
Earl  of 
Suf- 
folk. 


Mary,  James=Barbara 

VlL- 
LIERS, 

widow  of 
Philip, 
son  of 
Philip, 
Viscount 
Wen- 
man,  d. 
13  Dec. 
1681.  The 
COUN- 
TESS of 
SUF- 
FOLK, 
see  p. 
54. 


Barbara  Villiers,  wife  of 

Roger     Palmer,      Earl     of 

Castlemaine,     and     created 

Duchess  of  Cleveland. 


George 

VlL- 


erected  a  splendid 
monument  at  Ports- 
mouth to  her  bro- 
ther's memory. 


Mary 

VlL- 


I i — 

t  I 

Mary  Anne 

Field-  Field- 

liers,    liers,  m.    ing,  m.  ing,  first 

2nd          James,        James  wife  of 

Duke  of    4th  Duke    Duke  of  Baptist 

Bucking-    ofLen-      Hamil-  Noel, 

ha.Tn,  who    nox.and     ton,  be-  3rd  Vis- 

was  ac-    3rd  Duke     headed  count 

compa-      of  Rich-    in  1649,  Camp- 

niedin       mond,      by  whom  den.  She 

his  escape  called  in     she  had  died  24 

after  the  p.  5,  '■The    Anne,  March, 

battie  of       OLD       Duchess  1636. 
Worces-    DUCH-     of  Ham- 
per in      ESS  OF     ilton,  in 
1651,  by      RICH-     her  own 
Colonel    MOND,'      right. 
Blagge.        who 
placed 
Mrs.  Godolphin  un- 
der the  care  of  the 
Countess  of  Ouil- 
ford. 


1 

I 
Lewis  :=  Eliza- 
Boyle         BETH 

Vis-  FlELD- 

COUnt  INQ, 

Kenel-       created 
mea-       COUN- 
ky,        TESS  of 
2nd         GUIL- 
son  of       FORD 
Rich-        for  life, 
ard,         14  July, 
Earl  of        1660 : 
Cork.        under 
whose 
care  Mrs.  Qodol- 
phin  was  placed 
by  the  Duchess 
of  Richmond, 
see  p.  5. 


TABLE    IV. 

SHEWING  THE  DESCENT  AND  CONNEXIONS  OF 

LADY  SYLVIUS. 


Thomas  Howard,  first  Earl  of  Berkshire,  2nd — Elizabeth  Cecil,  dau.  and  co-heir  of  William 


son  of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  d.  1669. 


Earl  of  Exeter. 


1. 


Charles 

Thomas 

H 

KN- 

Howard, 

Howard, 

RY 

2nd   Earl 

3rd  Earl 

How- 

of Berk- 

of  Berk- 

ard, 

sh.  d. 

sh.  d. 

d. 

1679. 

1706. 

1( 

563. 

4. 


WiL-  —Elizabeth, 


LIAM 

How- 
ard. 


dau.  of  Lord 
Dundas,    tke 
mother  of 
L,ady  Syl- 
vius.   See  p. 
15. 


Edward  Sir  Robert  Ho- 
HoWARD.  waKd,  Auditor  of 
the  Exchequer, 
&c.  the  well- 
known  author, 
lived  at  Ashted, 
near  Epsom. 


Philip 
Howard. 

James 
Howard. 

Algernon 
Howard. 


-J- 


Ogle, 

\^KA- 

ven 

(first 

Ho- 

wife,) 

ward. 

maid  of 

honor  to 

Q,ueen 

Catha- 

rine. 

Mary 

Bowes, 

{second 

wife,) 

dau.  of 

George, 

B.of 

Elford. 


Col. 

James 

Graham, 

of  Le- 

vens, 

Privy 

Purse  to 
James, 
D.  of 
York. 


—Dorothy 

Howard, 

maid  of 

honour. 

The  sister 

of  L,ady 

Sylvius. 

See  pp. 

15  17,33, 

74. 


Sir  Gabriel 

Sylvius, 

Hoffmaester 

to  the  Prince 

of  Orange : 

Envoy   to 

Brunswick  in 

Feb.    1679-80, 

and  Envoy 

Extr.  to 
Denmark  in 
June,  1685. 


Anne  Howard, 
ob.  innupt. 


Henry  Bowes— Catherine  Graham. 
Howard,  4th 
Earl  of  Berk- 
shire. 


Anne  Howard,  maid  of 
honour  to  Q.ueen  Catha- 
rine, m.  13  Nov.  1677,  at 
Henry  VII. 's  Chapel,  by 
the  Dean  of  Westminster, 
Dr.  John  Dolben,  then  Bi- 
shop of  Rochester,  after- 
wards Archbishop  of  York. 
See  an  account  of  her  mar- 
riage in  .Evelyn,  ii.  436. 
The  LADY  SYLVIUS  to 
whom  this  work  is  dedica- 
ted. 


TABLE    V. 

SHEWING    THE    CONNEXION    BETWEEN    THE 

FAMILIES  OF  GODOLPHIN,  EVELYN, 

AND  HARCOURT. 


Sir  Francis 

godolphis, 

K.  B. 


i^DoROTHY,  dan.  of 
Sir  Charles  Berke- 
ley, of  Yarlington. 


JOHN  EVE-=fMA.RY,  dau. 


LYN,  d.1705, 
set.  85. 


of  Sir  Ri- 
chard 
Browne. 


Sir  Philip  = 

HaRcocrt, 

d.  1688. 


AsNE,  dau,  of  Sir 
William  Waller, 
of  Osterley  Park, 
d.  1614. 


Sidney  Godol- 
PHiN,  Earl  of 

Godolphin, 
K.  G.  d.  1712 


MARGA-  Edward= 
RET  BoscA- 

BLAGGE,  WEN,  d. 
d.  1678.         1665. 


Jane 

Godol- 
phin, 
d.  1730. 


John  Eve-==Martha  Simon,  Vis— t-  Rebecca 


LYN,  ob.  in 
V.  p.  1698. 


Spen- 
cer, d. 
1726. 


count  Har- 
court,  Lord 
High  Chan- 
cellor, d. 
1727. 


dau.  of 

Thomas 

Clark. 


Francis  Go- 
dolphin, 

2nd  Earl  of 

Godolphin, 

d.  1766. 


Henrietta 
Churchill, 
Duchess  of 
Marlbo- 
rough, d. 
1733. 


Hugh 

BOSCA- 

WEN,  Vis. 
count  Fal- 
mouth, d. 
1734. 


Charlotte  God-    Anne -rSiR  John  Eliza— r    Hon. 


FREY,     (niece    of  Bosca- 
the  Duke  of  wen, 

Marlborough,)      d.l751. 
maid  of  honour  to 
Q.ueen  Anne,  d. 
1754. 


Evelyn, 

Bart.  d. 

1763. 


BETH 

Eve- 
lyn, d. 
1760. 


William 
Godol- 
phin, 
Marquis 
of  Bland- 
ford,  d. 
1731. 


Thomas  = 

Osborne, 

4th  Duke 

of  Leeds, 

d.  1789. 


Mary 
Go 

DOL- 
PHIN, 

died 
1764. 


-J 


SiMON 

Har- 

COCRT, 

d.  1720, 
in  V.  p. 


Mary  =Sir  John    Simon, 
BoscA-     Evelyn,  1st  Earl 
WEN,d.      Bart.  d.       Har- 
1749.  1767.      court,  d. 

1777. 


Francis  G. 

Osborne, 
5th  Duke 
of  Leeds, 

See  Table  I. 


-Rebecca  George  Ven- 
Le  Bass,    ables  Ver- 


d.  1765. 


NON,  Lord 

Vernon,  d. 

1780. 


Martha 
Har- 

COURT, 

d.  1794. 


Sir  Frederic  William 
Evelyn,  mar- Harcolrt 
ried  Mary  3rd  Ea-1 

Turton,  d.  s.      Harcourt, 
p.  181-2.  ob.  3.  p. 


-J 


George  Simon  t^Elizabeth,  Edward   =Anne    Lk 
Harcolrt,  2nd 

Earl  Harcourt. 

ob.  s.  p.  1809. 


dau.  of  Geo. 
Lord  Ver- 
non, m. 
1765. 


Venables 
Vernon 

Harcocrt 

Abp.  of 

York. 


VESON  Go- 

WER.dau.of 
Granville, 
MarGuis  of 
Stafford. 


IIP 


DATE    DUE 

SEP  0  5  ?flfl1 

1 

GAYLORD 

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